If you thought the senior teams failed to sign foreigners, you should think again, because everything is intentional • The reality of the corona dictates the pace, and the club heads make adjustments • Asi Rahamim explains: "In the past we could make mistakes and correct, today there is no such privilege"

• Cherry and Joshua. The two are examples of opportunities to come

  Photo: 

  Bernie Ardov

August began a few days ago, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel BS have not yet landed any foreign players in Israel. Betar Jerusalem has added one, but this matter was closed last season. Is this accidental? Definately not.

The Premier League teams are talking about a new reality that was forced upon them following the Corona crisis around the world. Maccabi Tel Aviv has recently been looking for foreigners in several positions, including that of the right-back who left behind Andre Geralds, one of the quality players who were in the champions' roster last season. A source close to the matter admitted yesterday: "It only proves how difficult it is to land foreigners in Israel."

Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel B'Shlosha have so far left the current foreigners on their roster. "As long as there are no foreigners who want to come - they will not be released," they clarified in Haifa. And what about B'Shlosha? There they foresaw the past as early as the middle of last season, and therefore ensured the stay of Miguel Vitor, Joshua Pescuira and Elton Acultasa - three players who are very difficult to bring to Israel at a similar level. "The desired thing is not to postpone bringing in foreigners, but to get stronger," explains Hassi Hapoel CEO Asi Rahamim. "We know that what we have at the moment, even following the release of Ben Shehar, Nigel Hasselbaink and others, needs strengthening. The streamlining is not over, we need to get stronger to continue to struggle at the top.

Moshe is celebrating. Turns to the Israeli market // Photo: Berni Ardov

"But the current situation is that it is more difficult to bring foreign players to Israel because it is considered a red state. Some leagues are still played and end with a cup final. In this respect, too, the window was extended to October 12. This creates a situation that is now just the beginning of the transfer window."

In Betar Jerusalem, for example, they appeal mainly to the Israeli market. Uriel Degani, who is in talks, and Oren Bitton, who officially signed yesterday, are part of the names. And in the foreign sector? , Is that bringing them replacements has become a complex task.

Charon Sherry and Joshua as an example

last season the big clubs waited until the end of the transfer window to land foreigners. It paid off for Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel BS. The Greens landed the connection Charon Sheri (11 goals and 10 assists), while BS brought the Portuguese connection Joshua, who signed on to win the state cup. The players were brought to Israel by the players' agent Ziv Sternberg (together with his partner Ariel Bozorgi), who clarifies: "It is possible to bring such foreigners this season as well. The window is not over." Other agents say that high-level foreigners currently playing in top European leagues are in no hurry to reach our Premier League.

"Once a player does not find his place financially or family-wise, a lot of options open up," Sternberg explains, "Cherry is a great example, but Joshua was also ejected from a team in Turkey. In September he was without a team, and that's exactly where the offer came from." That. No one will find such players if he follows them a week before. Only someone who has been following for months and is with his finger on the pulse can bring in such players at the right time. There will be opportunities, that's for sure. "Rahamim completes the picture and explains:" In today's era, more responsibility is needed. If in the past you could make mistakes and correct, today you do not have that privilege. "

Wildshot and Geralds // Photo: Alan Schieber

So none of the big ones are in a hurry. Hapoel Tel Aviv, as it was in a hurry, brought in players with less impressive resumes or those who played in Israel (Armando Cooper). Maccabi Haifa may consider bringing a foreign brake, but the club make it clear that they will not release any of the existing foreigners until someone better than the existing ones is found. In the brake position with Trent Sainsbury, and possibly later also with midfielder Yannick Wildshot

, the Toto Cup games will start next Saturday, and the chances are that by then no significant foreign player will sign for one of the big teams.