Amir Tawfik, who oversees Ahly's signings, said in a statement that the club had ended talks with Yakubu "after the medical examination he underwent three days ago".

Local reports said that two medical examinations had shown that Yakubu is suffering from some knee problems, which were not specified.

Ahly then sought to sign the 24-year-old on a short-term loan deal but could not agree a fee with Portuguese club Rio Ave, according to the reports.

The Red Devils remain on the lookout for a new striker after their toothless frontline came in for fierce criticism this season.

Ahly boast the Egyptian Premier League's best attacking record with 22 goals in 12 matches but only four were scored by strikers, with Mohamed Sherif and Percy Tau netting two apiece.

South African forward Tau is injury-prone while Sherif has so far failed to recapture the form that saw him finish as the league's top scorer with 20 goals in the 2020-21 season.

Ahly have made two January signings, landing Tunisian youngster Mohamed Dhaoui from Etoile Sahel and Smouha's full-back Khaled Abdel-Fattah.

The club top the Premier League table with 30 points, five clear of second-placed and defending champions Zamalek.

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