Al Ain douse transfer speculation

UAE Pro-League champions-elect Al Ain have quelled speculation linking them with highly-rated Oman and Al Ahli striker Amad Al Hosni.

Al Ain first-team supervisor Mohammed Obeid Hammad rubbished the link with the 27-year-old striker, who netted 15 goals for Saudi Arabian runners-up Al Ahli this season.

“We repeat that our concentration and interest as a coaching team and players are only for the league,” Hammad told Sport360.

“We don’t know the reason behind such rumours at this critical time.”

Al Ain are eight points clear in the Pro-League with four games to play.

The Al Hosni link, which came after he missed Al Ahli’s past two Asian Champions League fixtures, had led to speculation the club’s current Asian player, Nasser Al Qahtani, could be forced out.

But Hammad again quelled the rumours.

“We assure that Al Ain club has great confidence in our foreign players who succeeded in showing high levels next to their colleagues this season, which gave them great impact in Al Ain fans’ hearts,” he said.

Al Qahtani, who has scored just four goals this league season, retired from international football earlier this week.