Goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi's return to action is contingent on him extending his deal with Ismaili, the team's assistant coach said on Saturday. Sobhi's current contract runs out next summer and he turned down Ismaili's offer to prolong his stay for three years. The coastal club said they were not willing to improve their EGP3.6 million offer for the 28-year-old custodian. "Sobhi will play once he pens the new deal. He doesn't have any problems with that," Mahmoud Gaber told FilGoal.com. "We didn't field him (in the friendly game) against Lierse because he is yet to accept our offer." Sobhi, a one-club man who was promoted 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 sign veteran goalie Essam Al-Hadari. Al-Hadari, widely regarded as the best keeper in Egypt's history, is now the Dervishes' first-choice man to stand between the sticks. Egyptian champions Ahli, whom Al-Hadari abruptly left in February 2008, said they might make a move for Sobhi.