Maradona seeks January replacements

Diego Maradona’s UAE outfit Al Wasl are keen to enter into the transfer market during January.

The Argentina legend conceded his team’s title hopes were in tatters after Friday’s 2-1 loss to Al Wahda, making the need for a big buy this month all the more important.

Al Wasl dropped to sixth after the defeat which left them winless in four matches with Maradona claiming it was their ‘worst’ performance since he joined the club in June.

The club’s chairman Marwan bin Bayat confirmed in a television interview that Al Wasl would now seek to replace foreign duo Edson Puch and Richard Porta after they failed to impress in the first half of the Pro-League season.

Al Wasl, who have previously been linked with Diego Forlan and Carlos Tevez, have reportedly been chasing Schalke’s ex-Spain international Raul.

Other names rumoured to be on Al Wasl’s shopping list include Iranian Ferydoon Zandi and Saudi Arabia-based Argentine Juan Ignacio Mercier.

Maradona has regularly discussed bringing in new reinforcements and it seems Friday’s defeat was the last straw for the Argentine.

The Al Wasl coach told reporters after the defeat: “There will be no place for any player who does not meet our aspiration. The team played really badly, and I did not expect this from them.”

“We have become Santa Claus, distributing gifts in this Christmas period, and I hate that. I do not like giving gifts to my competitors. The team lacks personality, determination and the desire to win.”