Al Ahli set to beat Sunderland to signing of Fenerbahce striker Moussa Sow

Moussa Sow arrives in UAE football following a successful and prolific career in France and Turkey. Ozan Kose / AFP

Fenerbahce’s Senegalese striker Moussa Sow is expected to sign for Al Ahli after being the subject of an offer from the Arabian Gulf League club.

According to a statement released on the Fenerbahce website, an offer of €16 million (Dh66m), plus an extra €1m for Sow, was made by Al Ahli.

Sow, 29, is making his way to Dubai to agree personal terms and undergo a medical ahead of finalising the deal.

“Moussa Sow has been the subject of an offer from Dubai’s Al Ahli,” the statement confirmed. “Officials from Fenerbahce and Al Ahli are meeting at the request of the player to conclude the deal. …

“Al Ahli have until Monday to complete the deal, at which point the transfer will be finalised.

“We would like to thank Moussa Sow for his important service to the club and wish him success at his new club.”

Sow will link up at Ahli with another striker in his first season with the Dubai side, Rodrigo Lima, the Brazilian from Benfica, in a front-line that will be the envy of the Arabian Gulf League.

The Senegal international’s arrival completes Al Ahli’s foreign quota for the current season: Sow and Lima are joined by Brazilian playmaker Everton Ribeiro and South Korean midfielder Kwon Kyung-won.

Additionally, Sow’s move is sure to spell the end at Ahli for Moroccan winger Oussama Assaidi and Brazilian forward Ciel.

Sow heads to the UAE following a prolific career in Europe.

He was 18 when he signed with the French club Rennes in 2004, and did not come into his own as an elite striker until he moved to Lille in 2010. He was the top scorer in Ligue 1 in 2010/11 with 25 goals and played a pivotal role in Lille’s first league title in more than 57 years as well as their Coupe de France triumph.

Midway through his second season at Lille, Sow was signed by Fenerbahce in January 2012, making an immediate impact at his new club by scoring an injury-time goal on debut against Istanbul rivals Besiktas. During his three-and-a-half year stay at Fenerbahce, Sow averaged close to a goal every other league game, scoring 52 times in 107 appearances, winning the 2013/14 Super Lig title and the Turkish Cup twice.

Sow was also attracting interest from the Premier League this summer, with West Ham United and Sunderland both reportedly keen on his services.

Reports in the British media claimed Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat had identified Sow as a priority target, with talks reportedly taking place between the Premier League club and Fenerbahce.

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