Ahly will be in the market this summer for strikers to shore up their front line, which has been performing below-par since the departure of Mohamed Nagy 'Gedo' and Mohamed Abou-Treika.

Speaking to reporters after Monday's training session, coach Hossam El-Badry revealed that former Egypt strikers Mohamed Zidan, 31, and Amr Zaki, 30, were both on Ahly's radar, and that it was likely they would hire one of the two players.

The Red Devils have lacked efficiency since the loan-out of Gedo and Abou-Treika to Hull City (England) and Bani Yas (United Arab Emirates) respectively.

New signing Ahmed Abdel-Zaher has made few appearances, scoring only a single well below expectations, while Emad Meteb appears way past his prime.

Zidan, who made most of his reputation in the Bundesliga – where he played for Dortmund, Hamburg, Werder Bremen and Mainz – was shown the door last winter after spending only six months with Bani Yas after falling out with the team's coach.

Meanwhile, former Zamalek and Wigan striker Amr Zaki was released by Turkish side Elazigspor last January after failing to make an impact during his six-month spell in the Turkish League.

Both of those who once achieved glory with the Pharaohs are now free agents and seem easy targets for the Red Devils.

But they aren't the only candidates, as El-Badry has also singled out Pharaohs forward Ahmed Hassan Mekki, who will remain under contract with Haras El-Hodoud until 2014.

"I spoke to Mekki several times and told him I want him at Ahly," El-Badry said. "I have already asked the club's board to sign him."

El-Badry is also looking beyond Egypt's borders, watching the African Youth Championship and continental competitions for up-and-coming talents.

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