Egyptian side Pyramids FC are closing in on the signing of Morocco striker Ayoub El-Kaabi on a free transfer, with Moroccan media reporting on Thursday that he is set to join the club for an estimated annual salary of $1.7 million. The 27-year-old terminated his contract with Chinese Hebei China Fortune last week and is chased by a handful of Moroccan clubs. However, Moroccan media said Pyramids are likely to win the race due to the lucrative offer they tabled. El-Kaabi, a former Rajaa, RS Berkane and Wydad striker, made nine international appearances with Morocco, scoring twice. He helped Morocco win the African Nations Championship in 2018 by scoring nine goals that made him the tournament's top scorer. Pyramids have spent big over the past few seasons to build a team capable of challenging for honours. They finished third in the league last season and reached the CAF Confederation Cup semis this term, where they will face Guinean side Horoya AC. The Emirati-owned club have also signed Ahly's veteran right-back Ahmed Fathi this summer after he opted not to renew his deal and they are reportedly on the verge of landing Huddersfield's Egyptian star Ramdan Sobhi, who also turned down an offer from his boyhood club Ahly to make his loan deal permanent. Their stand-out performer this season, experienced playmaker Abdallah El-Said, also arrived from Ahly in January 2019. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
