DUBAI // Al Wasl are searching for a new striker following the departure of Ederson to the Japanese J-League.
The Brazilian forward, who scored 14 Arabian Gulf League goals last season on loan from Atletico Paranaense, has signed for Kashiwa Reysol, the Chiba-based club that last year finished fourth in Japan’s top flight.
Wasl had been attempting to make permanent his move, although they were growing increasingly frustrated by Paranaense’s reluctance in clarifying their position. The Dubai side have been pursuing other targets, with negotiations for Celta Vigo’s Joaquin Larrivey thought to have already begun.
MORE ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE NEWS
[ Mirko Vucinic hopes partnership with Thiago Neves can fire Al Jazira to AGL title ]
[ Arabian Gulf League fixtures released: Al Ain begin title defence against Al Dhafra ]
[ Another stellar season for Ali Mabkhout will surely lead to renewed interest from Europe ]
Wasl have experienced similar irritations regarding Caio, the Brazilian who also spent last season on loan at the Zabeel Stadium. The forward’s parent club, Internacional, have been keeping Wasl waiting too, despite the seven-time UAE champions making it clear they want to sign Caio on a permanent deal.
However, Wasl remain confident they will reach a positive resolution, whether that represents another temporary contract or the outright transfer. Caio was a huge success during the 2014/15 campaign, finding the net 16 times to finish as the club’s joint-top scorer alongside compatriot Fabio Lima. Lima, who now qualifies as Wasl’s Asian representative since he obtained Uzbek citizenship, remains with the UAE side and will fulfil his two-year loan deal from Brazil’s Atletico Goianiense.
Wasl were loath to lose Ederson after he formed a prolific attacking triumvirate with Lima and Caio during his debut season. The trio scored 46 of the team’s 53 league goals to help the club finish sixth — their best ranking in five years. Hugo Viana, the fourth foreign player from 2014/15, signed a one-year extension last month.
[ jmcauley@thenational.ae ]
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE
