Lierse SK have once again approached Ismail goalie Essam Al-Hadari but the Dervishes still insist on keeping hold of him. The Belgian side, who secured a top-flight promotion last season, first tried to sign the Egypt first-choice keeper in February, when English side Watford and Sudanese giants Merreikh were also targeting him. Ismaili persistently fended off interest in Al-Hadari from all three sides back then and they are still willing to hold onto the 37-year-old. "Although Al-Hadari has been suspended for four months starting next season, we were aiming to land him," Lierse chairman Maged Sami told FilGoal.com. "We opened fresh talks with Ismaili's officials but they completely rejected our overtures." Al-Hadari was initially handed a four-month ban and a 900,000 euro fine by FIFA for breaching his contract with Ahli in February 2008 to join Swiss club Sion. The sanction was frozen upon his appeal but the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld his sanction on June 1st yet his fine was reduced to $ 796,500. After Ismaili had turned down Lierse for a second time, Egyptian businessman Sami decided that he would no longer pursue Al-Hadari. "The door is closed now. We will be looking for another keeper," he added. Four Egyptian players are plying their trade at Lierse, Mohamed Abdul-Wahed and Ahmed Samir including.
