El-Hadary made no secret of his desire to leave Zamalek when the transfer window re-opens in January after falling out with the club’s board of directors and coach Hossam Hassan.

He has been skipping training since Zamalek’s goalkeeping coach Emad El-Mandouh accused him of insulting the club last month.

Al-Merreikh, who have recently appointed former Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry as their new boss, confirmed reports suggesting that they are lining up an offer for the veteran Egypt goalie.

“El-Badry and the club’s football committee gave us the green light to open talks with Zamalek over the possibility of signing El-Hadary on loan for one year,” Al-Merreikh board member Adel Abou-Greisha said in a phone interview with Al-Ahram Arabic portal.

“We will table the offer on Thursday,” Abou-Greisha added but declined to disclose the financial details of the bid.

El-Hadary joined Zamalek from Ismaily in the close season but his competition with fans favorite Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed for a regular spot between the sticks unsettled the team.

World governing body FIFA imposed a four-month ban on him in October for violating his contract with Zamalek’s arch rivals Ahly to join Swiss side Sion in an infamous transfer saga that hit headlines for several months in 2008.

El Hadary, 37, is Egypt’s undisputed number one keeper, having played a key role in helping the Pharaohs win three successive African Cup of Nations titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010.