Zamalek are negotiating with archrival Ahly’s talismanic midfielder to land him during the transfer window, though they have not reached an agreement with him yet.

“The talks with Ahmed Hassan are still ongoing to agree on the benefit details,” White Castle board member, Amr El-Ganainy told Ahram Online.

However El-Ganainy also rubbished reports of the Pharaohs captain’s approval on the two-season move, which was to net him six million pounds funded by former president Mamdouh Abbas.

“Yes, Ahmed Hassan is on our radar,” says Whites marketing manager, Ashraf Sobhy confirming that the talented skipper is on the technical staff’s recommended list.

Ahly’s football director, Sayed Abdel-Hafiz postponed talking about contract details of Ahmed Hassan till clinching the league trophy.

“We have a crucial match on Thursday against relegated Arab Contractors so we have to stay focused on the green field,” Abdel-Hafiz was quoted as saying on the club’s official website adding, “after that we will discuss Ahmed Hassan's contract renewal.”

Ahly are leading the Egyptian Premier League table with 57 points, five ahead of Zamalek and will only need two points to be named champions for the seventh successive time.

The 36-year-old Hassan, voted best African-based player in 2010, joined the Cairo giants in 2008 from Belgian side Anderlecht, inspiring them to win the Egyptian Premier League title in 2009 and 2010, as well as the African Champion League in 2009. On the way, he scored 12 goals in 37 appearances.

The former Kocaelispor, Denizlispor, Gençlerbirligi and Beşiktas star is considered to be one of the few successful Egyptian footballers to have played in the European leagues. He ended his travels at Anderlecht where he won the Belgian league and Super Cup in 2007, and the Belgian Cup in 2008.

The veteran Pharaoh also has four African Cup of Nations trophies to his name. He won the last three in a row -- 2006, 2008 and 2010 – under the leadership of Hassan Shehata, and also took part in the 1998 Championship in which he played with striker Hossam Hassan, Zamalek's current coach.