Maccabi Tel Aviv is looking for a right-back and defender ahead of the January transfer window. The injuries to Nir Bitton (cruciate ligament tear) and Derrick Lucassen (posterior thigh muscle strain) shortened Robbie Keane's backline squad, with the Irish coach asking Ben Mansford for reinforcement and being promised one. At the same time, it is important to note that right-back Ivan Masson returned to France and left the table leader.
Last night, in the game against Hapoel Haifa, Keane brought in left-back Ofir Davidzadeh, but Maccabi Tel Aviv players also admitted that "there is a difficult load of games and this is also reflected in injuries." By the time the transfer window opens, Maccabi Tel Aviv has two games. The first against M.S. Ashdod (Thursday) and then against Hapoel Hadera. The match against Maccabi Haifa will take place on 10.1, but even if the acquisition is found by then, the Yellows will find it difficult to integrate it without acclimatization time.
Enric Savorit is suffering from a groin strain and the intention is to try to train him until the season game against the champions. Cain will have to deal with Ashdod with Sharan Yeni and Idan Nahmias as the only defenders in the squad. Another option would be to divert Ofir Davidzadeh to the center of the defense, as was done last night against Hapoel Haifa.
The Israeli market is already sparse in defensive players, but even so, the Yellows have marked a number of names whose possibility of adding them is being examined. Defender Raz Shlomo, coached by Belgian club Leuven Ex Maccabi Tel Aviv, Oscar Garcia, came up as a possibility for reinforcement. However, Solomon started for the Belgians under Garcia and made great progress in his professional status.
Raz Shlomo. He is also among Maccabi's options, photo: Alan Shaver
Regarding the right defensive position, the names of Zohar Zasano from MS Ashdod and Dia Dezant from Maccabi Petah Tikva came up as a possibility to come as a backup to Avishai Cohen. Ben Mansford watched Zasano last Saturday against Hapoel Be'Sheva and was impressed. The obstacle to the deal may only be excessive demands on the part of Jackie Ben Zaken, but in light of the situation Maccabi Tel Aviv is in, a club source admitted: "We will have to find solutions in order to bring quality procurement. There is a clear professional need for this." It is possible to add foreign players as well, but the war in Israel reduces the possibilities abroad. "Players are afraid to come to Israel, but we check the market all the time," Kiryat Shalom said.
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Meanwhile, veteran defender Sharan Yeni made his 550th appearance for Maccabi Tel Aviv last night. The sparseness in the center of defense will lead to him getting more appearances in the upcoming games. "I feel good physically," he clarified, "I have something to contribute and if the club wants me to retire, I will, I have no intention of playing for any other team." Along with the sparse defense, it is important to note that Maccabi Tel Aviv still has the lowest amount of concessions in the Premier League, significantly with only seven mandatory goals, while in half of the games it played (12), it kept a clean sheet.
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