Jazira target Fenerbahce striker Sow as replacement for Ecuador’s Caicedo

Abu Dhabi club's attempts to bring in Emirati talent knocked back

Fenerbahce's Moussa Sow celebrates after scoring a goal during a Uefa Champions League third qualifying round second leg match between against Red Bull Salzburg at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on August 6, 2013. Ozan Kose / AFP
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ABU DHABI // Al Jazira are prepared to spend €15 million (Dh74.6m) on Moussa Sow, the Fenerbahce striker, according to reports in Turkey.
The Arabian Gulf League side are revamping their squad for the 2014/15 season under the Belgian Eric Gerets, the new coach.
Sunderland, the English Premier League club, are also said to be eyeing the France-born Senegalese striker, who has a release clause of €15m with two years left of his contract.
Sow, according to Turkishfootball.com, is unhappy with his current contract situation at Fenerbahce because the club are unwilling to increase his wages.
Since joining Fenerbahce from the French club Lille for €10m in January 2012, Sow has won two Turkish Cups and the 2013/14 league title, scoring 43 goals in all competitions since moving to Turkey.
When contacted on Sunday, a Jazira official declined to comment on the reports.
Sow, 28, would be a likely replacement for Felipe Caicedo, the Ecuador international who signed for Jazira in January. He arrived from Russia's Lokomotiv Moscow on a three-year deal in the January transfer window as replacement for Wasl-bound Ricardo Oliveira.
Caicedo, a former Manchester City forward, is on national-team duty at the World Cup in Brazil. His time at Jazira was plagued by a troublesome knee, causing him to miss several games.
Jazira are leaving no stones unturned as they prepare for the new season.
So far, they have failed in bids to sign UAE internationals Habib Fardan, the Al Nasr midfielder, and Ismail Al Hammadi, the Al Ahli forward and Arabian Gulf League Emirati Player of the Year.
Jazira's latest Emirati target is Mohanad Salem, the Al Ain centre-back. They are also scouting for an Asian player to replace the South Korean midfielder Shin Hyung-min.
Jazira failed to win a trophy in 2013/14 but finished third in the Arabian Gulf League and were the losing finalists in the Arabian Gulf Cup. They also reached the last 16 in the Asian Champions League, losing to Al Ain over two legs.
Jazira's squad will regroup under Gerets next month before heading to Switzerland for a three-week camp in early August.
apassela@thenational.ae
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