Focus of Bruno Metsu on search for a striker

French coach realistic about who he can buy given limited budget allocated to him by Pro League club Al Wasl.

Bruno Metsu, right, is pleased with the commitment the Al Wasl players have shown so far. Afsal Sham / Al Ittihad

DUBAI // Bruno Metsu, the man who replaced Diego Maradona as the coach of Al Wasl, will focus his immediate attention on recruiting a new strike force, although the Frenchman acknowledges he is working within a restricted budget.

The former UAE national team coach took his first training session at the Zabeel Stadium on Tuesday night after last week signing a two-year contract.

Despite insisting he must first assess his squad, Metsu will realise the need to act quickly in the transfer market having joined the club midway through pre-season.

The majority of Wasl's rivals have already filled their quota of four foreign players, yet the Dubai club are searching for up to three overseas recruits following the decision to release the Uruguayan Juan Manuel Olivera, the Argentine Juan Ignacio Mercier and Iran's Mohammed Reza Khalatbari.

Reports in the Moroccan press claim Wasl are in advanced negotiations with Raja Casablanca for the striker Yassine Salhi and Ismail Belmaalem, a defender, yet when asked about the possibility of two signings from North Africa, Metsu simply said: "Maybe."

"The first priority is evaluating the team and deciding the player we need. After that, we know the first thing we need is a striker," he told The National. "After that, if you find two strikers, you then check which player you need more to help the team.

"Of course I've a lot of players in my mind, but the problem for us is not finding the players, the problem is the budget. To find the players is really easy, but we don't have the same means as Al Ain, Al Jazira or Al Wahda.

"We therefore need to look at other solutions, because our team must find good players, especially ones that are not too expensive."

Wasl have reportedly offered US$1.5 million (Dh5.5m) for 24-year-old Salhi and $500,000 for Belmaalem, also 24. Both men are Morocco internationals, with Salhi scoring six goals earlier this month to fire his country to the Arab Nations Cup title. He was named the player of the tournament.

Metsu, 58, emphasised he is keen to move on from last season's disappointing Pro League campaign – Wasl finished eighth from 12 teams – which was punctuated by the often abrasive actions of Maradona.

Metsu, though, refused to comment on his predecessor's tenure, instead preferring to focus on refining the resources at his disposal.

"It is important to put the club first, after that I am here," he said. "We have some good players, and I'll try to give my best to increase the level of the team.

"The most important thing is to find the good foreign players, this is the first point. But we've good players already. They like to work, they like to run and they like to win. For that I will give my best and also expect theirs."

Wasl have already signed Mohammed Yaqoub from Ajman and Ali Abbas from Al Nasr, and include Mohammed Al Shaibah in their provisional squad for next season. The Omani defender, who would qualify as their one Asian player, was loaned out to Al Wahda during Maradona's 14 months in charge, but will have a chance to prove himself in pre-season before a decision on his future is made.

Five other players have been promoted from the Under 19 squad, while Majed Naser has also been included in the first-team roster. The club have asked the UAE FA to reduce the controversial goalkeeper's ban from a year to six months.

Wasl plan to play at least two friendlies in Dubai before they leave the Emirates for a 17-day training camp from August 22. The destination has yet to be decided, but Humaid Yousef, the team manager, said it will most likely be somewhere in Europe.

"We're still evaluating different locations, seeing the accommodation in those cities, looking at the budgeting and the pricing, etc," he said. "Regarding the two friendly matches played here in Dubai, we haven't decided who they will be against, but there will also be some additional matches organised."

Yousef added: "Last season is over, it's done. We thank coach Maradona for what he gave, but now we look forward to next season with a new coach. We're looking for improvement and trying to build a winning team to try and achieve results."

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