Ahli-target Mohamed Sobhi said on Thursday that Ismaili were not showing strong desire to extend his deal. The goalkeeper's current deal will run out next summer and talks over a possible move to Ismaili's bitter rivals Ahli surfaced. Ahli goalkeeping coach Ahmed Nagi said recently Sobhi was one of the club's targets for next season. "I don't feel that Ismaili are eager to prolong my stay," Sobhi, who has become a second-choice keeper at the Dervishes following the summer arrival of Egypt guardian Essam Al-Hadari, told FilGoal.com. "They are not holding any talks with me over a contract extension but I will honor my current deal anyway." Ismaili chairman Nasr Aboul-Hassan pointed the finger at Sobhi after negotiations came to a standstill.
Ismaili rely on Al-Hadari "We opened talks with him more than once but he asked us to delay them, saying that there is a long way to go before the end of the season," Aboul-Hassan said. "We will offer him a new deal following the international break that will make him one of the highest-paid players at the club." Al-Hadari and skipper Mohamed Hommos are Ismaili's top earners with an annual salary of EGP 1.6 million. Sobhi, a one-club man who was prompted to Ismaili's first team in 2001, used to be the team's regular keeper but a string of poor displays during the past two seasons prompted the club to look for a new custodian. The veteran Al-Hadari joined them from Swiss side Sion in the close season. He made a stuttering start to his new adventure but regained top form before the international break.