In the midst of a floundering season, Al Jazira will make a major splash as they seek a turnaround if an English report bears out.
The Sun says Harry Redknapp, most recently of Queens Park Rangers, is close to assuming control at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in what would be a £10 million (Dh55.5m) deal.
Jazira brought back Abel Braga to the helm prior to this season, but their reunion with the Brazilian who led them to the 2010/11 UAE league title has been an exercise in frustration to this point. The Abu Dhabi club are 11th in the 14-team table, just three points above relegation territory after their runners-up finish last year. They have been particularly dour of late, with just two points from their last five matches and three successive losses, all compounded by the loss of star striker Mirko Vucinic. Jazira lost the former Juventus man and last season’s top scorer for the season last month to injury.
A dramatic move to reverse their fortunes, then, would not be entirely surprising.
The Sun report quotes football agent Barry O'Connor saying he "can confirm" a link between Jazira and Redknapp, 68.
“Harry is wanted by Jazira to help with their current position,” O’Connor said.
“His knowledge is second to none and he would be able to speak to quality players about playing in the UAE.”
Prior to his stint at QPR, which ended in February, Redknapp managed Tottenham Hotspur, with stops at Portsmouth, Southampton, West Ham United and Bournemouth also under his belt.
As recently as this week, the Bournemouth native was rumoured to be lining up for the Newcastle United job, with Steve McClaren presumably nearing an exit. Redknapp denied that on Twitter on Wednesday.
If Redknapp does indeed arrive in Abu Dhabi, his first major task will be finding a replacement for Vucinic in the winter transfer window, to join a foreign quartet currently consisting of Jefferson Farfan, Thiago Neves and Park Jong-woo. He will also be tasked with shoring up a defence that has been a major liability at Jazira the past two seasons. With 20 goals allowed, Jazira are joint second-worst with bottom club Al Shaab. Even in last season's run to second, they allowed the third-most goals in the Arabian Gulf League.
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