External press reports have revealed the presence of many clubs interested in signing Asad Al-Hamlawi, the Romanian Universitatea Craiova player, during the current summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old Palestinian striker joined Universitatea Craiova last summer from Polish side Slask Wroclaw for one million euros, and quickly established himself with the team, becoming one of the squad's top scorers.
Romanian newspaper Pro Sport reported that Universitatea Craiova's management fears losing the team's top scorer in the same way he left Slask Wroclaw, when he forced the Polish club's management to accept the Romanian club's offer at the time.
Al-Hamlawi had strongly pushed to leave Slask Wroclaw after their relegation to the second division, going so far as to threaten not to return to the team, which the Polish club announced in an official statement, before later agreeing to his transfer to Universitatea Craiova.
Pro Sport confirmed the existence of pressure to push the player toward leaving the club, which raises concerns among Universitatea Craiova officials about a repeat of the same scenario.
The report indicated that Al-Hamlawi is attracting interest from several European and Arab clubs, including German side Mainz, Greek club AEK Athens, Polish team Legia Warsaw, Egyptian club Al Ahly, in addition to Belgian side Club Brugge.
Romanian press reports had indicated that Pyramids entered negotiations days ago to sign Asad Al-Hamlawi, with the Egyptian club's management submitting an official offer to sign him, after he had been on Al Ahly's radar last summer and this summer.
Pro Sport added: "The Palestinian striker's market value is around two million euros according to Transfermarkt, but Universitatea Craiova does not appear ready to let him go for less than five million euros."
The report explained that Club Brugge, the Belgian league champions, are in the race to sign Asad Al-Hamlawi, especially with their Italian striker Nicolò Tresoldi nearing a departure amid interest from Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, and Borussia Dortmund in signing him.
The newspaper noted that Al-Hamlawi caught the attention of Club Brugge officials after the outstanding season he had with Universitatea Craiova, where he scored 16 goals in 48 matches and contributed to the team winning the domestic double.
Pro Sport concluded: "With his standout performances in Romania, Al-Hamlawi appears poised for a new chapter in his career, amid interest from Club Brugge, Mainz, AEK Athens, Legia Warsaw, and Al Ahly of Egypt."
