Ahly skipper Hossam Ghaly has officially informed club management that Belgian side Lierse is currently in serious talks to sign him. Ghaly's contract with Ahly is slated to expire this summer. The club's board has expressed their desire to hold on to the talented midfielder, but Ghaly has voiced uncertainty regarding his future with the club given the current political instability. "Ghaly has informed us officially that he will start talks with Belgian club Lierse to join them this summer," Ahly's Football Director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz told the club's official website on Tuesday. "The player has the right to negotiate with any other club as his current contract runs out this summer. He has asked only for a two-day vacation to finalise the negotiations, especially since the league is currently suspended. "We respect Ghaly as one of the club icons and we wish him all the best, whether he will stay with us or leave," the football director concluded. The 32-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur, Ghaly, returned this month to team training after recovering from a serious knee injury that had sidelined him for five months. Ghaly, who came through Ahly's youth ranks, made his first-team debut in 2001 before joining Dutch side Feyenoord two years later. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur in England from 2006 - 2009 and had a short loan stint with Derby County. He returned to Ahly in the summer of 2010 after ending a spell at Saudi Arabia's Al-Nasr, leading the club to the Egyptian Premier League title in 2011 and the African Champions League crown in 2012. Lierse, owned by Belgian-Egyptian businessman Maged Samy, have ended this season's Belgian league in 14th place with 24 points, 43 behind title winners Anderlecht. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/75485.aspx
