Ligue 2 club Monaco's interest in UAE's Ahmed Khalil and Ibrahima Toure

French media report negotiations for the Al Ali and national team's striker and also Ajman's Senegalese forward respectively.

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DUBAI // Monaco have earmarked Ahmed Khalil as one of their targets during the current transfer window, according to reports in the French media.

The website, rmcsport.fr, claimed the Ligue 2 club's new management is keen on the 20-year-old Al Ahli and national team striker, who was the 2008 Asian Youth Player of the Year.

An Ahli spokesman, however, described the news as mere speculation. "We have not heard from any club as yet, and these are just rumours," he said.

The website also claimed Monaco's negotiations with Ajman for their Senegalese striker Ibrahima Toure - who has scored seven times in 11 Pro League games - have reached an advance stage, and a deal could be signed in the next few days.

Al Hilal's Achille Emana, meanwhile, has inched closer towards a move to Ahli after the Saudi club allowed him to leave for his medicals in Dubai.

If the Cameroonian passes his fitness test, he will sign a six-month loan move. Hilal had initially wanted Ahli to buy the former Real Betis player, but later agreed to the loan deal, with Ahli having the option of signing him on a permanent contract after the end of the season.

arizvi@thenational.ae