Abu Dhabi // Al Jazira are reportedly close to agreeing a deal for Angel Lafita, the Getafe attacking midfielder.
The Spaniard, 31, is currently in Abu Dhabi to undergo a medical with the view to signing a contract with the capital club.
The length of the deal is yet to be established.
It is thought Lafita, whose favoured position is on either flank, will replace either Thiago Neves or Jefferson Farfan, although Jazira also remain in the market for a striker. Mirko Vucinic, top scorer in the Arabian Gulf League last season, is out for the campaign after sustaining a knee injury in November.
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Neves, meanwhile, has failed to settle following his summer transfer from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, with the Brazilian recently linked to a move back to his homeland. Farfan, signed in July from Germany’s Schalke, has been out since early last month with an ankle injury, but could return in the next few weeks.
Jazira are in need of reinforcements considering their poor start to the season. At present, they sit 10th in the table at the halfway stage having dispensed with manager Abel Braga last month. In his second stint at the club, the Brazilian guided Jazira to three victories from 16 matches.
Braga was last week replaced by Henk Ten Cate, the former Ajax and Panathinaikos manager. His first assignment is Friday’s league match at fourth-placed Al Wasl.
Should Lafita sign, Jazira will be acquiring a player of considerable experience. After beginning his career at Zaragoza, he then spent two seasons at Deportivo La Coruna from 2007, before returning to his former club. He left again in May 2012, making the switch to Getafe.
In 84 Primera Liga appearances of the Madrid club, he has scored 14 goals.
[ jmcauley@thenational.ae ]
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