Al Jazira manager Marcel Keizer could be set to leave the club for Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon, only five months after his appointment.
Sources in Portugal and Holland say the Dutchman, 49, has an attractive offer on the table from Sporting, who are currently without a manager. The 18-time Portuguese champions sit fifth in the Primeira Liga after eight rounds this season.
Jazira would be loath to lose Keizer, a replacement in June for popular compatriot Henk ten Cate. The former Ajax manager, who spent six months last year in charge at the Amsterdam club, signed a two-year contract with the 2016/17 UAE champions and had initially settled well.
Keizer has impressed at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium during his short tenure. At present, the Abu Dhabi side lie third in the Arabian Gulf League, five points off leaders Sharjah, although they have played one match fewer.
It is understood Sporting have been intent on installing a Dutch manager and turned to Keizer after attempts to recruit Peter Bosz, most recently of Borussia Dortmund, and Frank de Boer, who was sacked last year by Crystal Palace.
At Ajax, Keizer was promoted internally to first-team manager in June 2017, but dismissed six months later after the club failed to secure European football for the first time in 25 years. Before that he had spells in charge of lower league clubs in Holland, including FC Emmen and Cambuur, with whom he served as technical director.
