On Friday Ahly denied opening talks with Zamalek striker Amr Zaki over a possible move in the ongoing January transfer window.

It is no secret that the combative frontman, nicknamed the Bulldozer, had grown increasingly frustrated with Zamalek’s failure to hand him his overdue salaries. He threatened to terminate his contract and depart on a free transfer; there was much speculation that the intended move was to be to Zamalek’s arch-rivals Ahly.

“Those reports (about Ahly’s interest in Zaki) are absolutely false. We haven’t opened any talks with the player,” Ahly football director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz said in a television interview.

“We are yet to identify our targets for this month. We may not sign any new players. To sign any player who is not available on a free transfer, we would go through legal channels.”

Ahly and Zamalek were involved in a fierce battle to sign the Egypt striker in the summer of 2006. The latter eventually managed to snap him up.

Egyptian Premier League holders Ahly, who signed several attacking midfielders in the closing season, are reportedly looking to strengthen their sterile frontline. Emad Meteb, who has scored five league goals so far, is deemed their only reliable striker.

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