French side Lyon make play for Al Kamali to join

Turned away in the summer, French Ligue 1 club Lyon is making another attempt to acquire Hamdan Al Kamali, left.

Paul Oberjuerge and Ahmed Rizvi

Hamdan Al Kamali, the UAE international, is one of two Pro League players targeted by Lyon, the France top-flight club, during the transfer window, team officials have said.

Al Kamali told his club coach, Josef Hickersberger of Al Wahda, that he expected to shift to the Ligue 1 side in the coming days.

"After the Wasl match [on Friday] he came to me and told me that it probably was his last match for Al Wahda," Hickersberger said yesterday. "Lyon apparently have made a serious offer."

Lyon attempted to secure Al Kamali, the 22-year-old central defender, during the summer, but Wahda rebuffed what they said was "not a serious offer".

If Al Kamali, the Olympic team captain, makes the move he would become the first Emirati to play for a major European side.

Lyon are also interested in securing Ibrahima Toure, the Ajman striker, according to Khalifa Al Jarman, chairman of the UAE club.

Al Jarman said Lyon have been in talks with the player's agent and Ajman for one month, but an offer has not yet been made. Toure, a Senegalese and product of the Metz academy in France, has been key in Ajman's early bid to remain up in the domestic top flight, scoring six goals in nine league matches.

Ajman have also been negotiating with Mohammed Reza Khalatbari, the Iranian striker, as a possible replacement for Olivier Tia, the Ivorian forward, who has failed to impress. The Iran international could stay on in Qatar; Al Kharitiyath have also shown an interest in the Al Gharafa player.