Marion Silva Fernandes is looking to make an immediate impact for Sharjah after replacing Brazilian compatriot Leonardo Lima at the struggling club.
Fernandes, 23, arrives on a six-month loan from Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro and the compact striker, keen to impress his new employers, was at the training ground hours after landing in the country, dismissing any concerns about jet lag.
“I really want to make a good start for my club here,” said Fernandes, who could make his debut against Kalba on Saturday.
Lima, offloaded by Al Nasr in the summer after four seasons with the Dubai club, was brought in by Sharjah on a season-long loan deal to replace their injured playmaker Fellype Gabriel, but the 33-year-old struggled to make an impression over the past six months.
In other deals before the close of the winter transfer window, Fujairah have signed Algerian striker Karim Ziani to replace his compatriot Hassan Yebda and have turned down offers for their star defender Madjid Bougherra.
Ziani, 32, played three matches for Ajman at the start of the season before a knee injury forced him off the roster. The relegation-threatened club, however, declined to re-register him during the winter transfer, bringing in Brazilian midfielder Rafael Crivellaro to replace Bakari Kone.
With Fujairah looking to replace Yebda, who has struggled to make an impression and has often been booed off the pitch by the club’s fans, Ziani has stepped in to join compatriot Bougherra in Ivan Hasek’s team.
Fujairah reportedly received a lucrative offer from Qatari club Al Sadd for Bougherra and the absence of the 32-year-old defender’s name from the team sheets for their past two AGL matches had led to speculation about his possible departure.
The club management, however, have turned down the offer and said Bougherra was missing from the two matches because he has been given rest after returning from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Bottom-placed Kalba have made two additions.
They have signed Brazil-born East Timorese centre-back Paulo Martins as their Asian player after dismissing their Syrian midfielder Wael Ayan and have brought in former Al Jazira striker Ahmed Jumaa on loan until the end of the season from Division One club Al Shaab.
Kalba, who have four points from 15 league matches, have retained only one of their four foreign players, Brazilian midfielder Danilo Bueno. They signed Senegalese striker Papa Waigo, formerly of Al Wahda, and Moroccan midfielder Said Fatah earlier in the winter transfer window.
Al Jazira, who are at the top of the AGL table alongside Al Ain on 33 points, have made another addition to their strengthen their defence before the close of the winter transfers, signing former Al Ain man Fares Jumaa on a four-year deal.
The Abu Dhabi club earlier signed veteran centre-back Basheer Saeed from Al Ahli as they try to plug holes in their defence, a problem which has seen the team concede more goals (28) than any other AGL team, except Ajman (32) and Kalba (34).
arizvi@thenational.ae
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