Al Ahly planning audacious move for Asante Kotoko forward Etouga Mbella despite several European interests
African giants Al Ahly are planning audacious and big money move for Asante Kotoko forward frank Mbella Etouga but faces competition from the likes of Galatasaray, Mertz and Stade Rennais.
The reigning Caf Champions League champions have reportedly scouted a couple of players on the African continent but have settle on Asante Kotoko attacker Etouga Mbella.
The Reds are in bid to find a non-North center forward- a position that has been traditional with Al Ahly during the days of Angolan forward Flávio da Silva Amado through to Junior Ajayi, helping the Egyptian side win a lot of luxuries over the years.
Since the days of Junior Ajayi, the position has not been fruitful as Al Ahly have always expected though the Nigerian International produced some sensational performances scoring 41 goals/30 assists in 161 games across all competitions over his 5-year stay in Cairo.
Ahly brought in Aliou Badji from Rapid Wien in January 2022 to improve the center-forward but the Senegalese struggled to adapt to life at the club seeing being sent out on loan to Ankaragücü a year later and currently at French side Amiens until end of the season.
Al Ahly have heavily relied on Sherif Mohamed in the center-forward and the Egyptian International has succeed in that position but that’s out of Ahly’s traditional way and still hope of signing a non-North center forward.
The Egyptian side have been linked with Mamelodi Sundowns stars Gaston Sirino in the past and Themba Zwane since January 2022 but will miss out on those players at the end of the season after the South African outfit unwilling to sell.
Asante Kotoko forward Etouga Mbella is the latest player Al Ahly have penciled down and are believed to have contacted the Ghana Premier leaders over a possible deal when the season comes to end.
The Cameroonian International has surprised many Ghana Premier League fans with his tremendous performances in his first season in the Ghanaian top flight.
Mbella has grabbed 15 goals in the league so far including 2 hat-tricks against Ash Gold and Accra Lions, and 3 brace against Legon Cities, Great Olympics and Dream FC.
Looking at the trend of scoring record, the Cameroonian International can break a huge GPL record set by former Hearts of Oak attacker Ismael Addo who remains the all-time top scorer of the league in a single season with 22 goals.
Al Ahly has decided to launch official bid at the end of the season- with their deal so huge that only few clubs in Africa can offer. A report on one of Kumasi’s radio stations has claimed that the Egyptian Premier League side have made ready $800,000 bid for Mbella ahead of next season.
The Cameroonian still have two years on his current contract which should offer a condition of staying in the Ghana Premier League beyond this season. But reports suggest that Asante Kotoko could cash in on Mbella which bolster Ahly’s pursuit of the 20-year old.
The club’s CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah has claimed that Asante Kotoko will be forced to sell if supporters do not attend home matches, and if prospective buyers submit the ‘right offer’ the club will accept bids for the Cameroonian since they may need money to run aspects of the club.
Despite this, Al Ahly face stiffer competition to win Mbella’s signature following numerous European interests. The African giants may battle with French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais.
Beside Stade Rennais’s interest, another French Ligue 1 side Mertz have eyed a move for Mbella and have reportedly hint Asante Kotoko with a million dollar deal as the Ghanaian side study the offer.
Just last week, a rife of Mbella to Galatasaray rumours burst in the media where claims that the Turkish giants have already scouted Mbella in the ongoing Ghana Premier League season have been made by Turkish media PesindeyizApp.
Galatasaray reps in African who conducted the scouting on Mbella have submitted their technical team a detailed report on the attacker, and may launch a move at the end of the season.
With Ahly having Stade Rennais, Mertz and Galatasaray to battle in chase for Mbella, the African side are confident of beating the European interest in summer. Knowing that they need to up their game against these clubs, Al Ahly may launch a bid they fell will convince Kotoko.
More to follow…
