Ahly's boss Hossam El-Badry said on Monday that his side needs more reinforcement, especially in the backline, to win the African Champions League.

The team suffered defensive problems with several injuries taking a toll on their rearguard.

The Red Devils won their 40th Egyptian League title and the third in a row last week to confirm their superiority on the domestic level, but they clinched their last Champions League title in 2013 when they lifted their eighth trophy.

They were close to winning the continental title last year but lost in the final 2-1 on aggregate to Moroccan side Wydad de Casablanca.

"We will hire a good defender in the summer transfer window to help the team in the Champions League group stages," El-Badry told the club's official website on Monday.

Ahly reached the Champions League group stages after defeating Gabonese side Mounana 7-1 on aggregate on Saturday.

"There are many discussions with the club management to choose the best players before opening negotiations with their clubs,'' El-Badry said.

However, the 58-year-old coach revealed that Nasser Maher, who was loaned to Smouha, would return to the club next summer. Also, he added, it is likely that one of Ahly's loanees in the Saudi league will return to the club in the summer.

Saleh Gomaa, Ahmed El-Sheikh, Hussein El-Sayed, Amr Barakat, Emad Metab and Moemen Zakareya are all plying their trade at different Saudi clubs on loan deals sealed in the winter transfer window.

 "We are monitoring all our loanees in Egypt and in the Saudi League."

"The club decided to regain the services of Nasser Maher following his fine displays with Smouha," El-Badry said.

"We are also monitoring our players in the Saudi league and we will decide their fate in the summer."

"The technical staff will discuss the needs of the team and it is likely that one of them will return to the team," he concluded.