Baniyas close to an agreement with new manager Luis Garcia

Baniyas had a shortlist of candidates but opted for the 41-year-old Garcia, the former Getafe coach, after speaking to him about his “visions and objectives”, according to club sources, reports Ahmed Rizvi.

Former Getafe's coach Luis Garcia is close to signing a deal to lead Baniyas into the 2014/15 Arabian Gulf League season. Juan Jose Lahuerta / EPA

Al Ain’s Nasser signs with Kalba and Salem joins Al Wasl

DUBAI // Baniyas are set to announce Spaniard Luis Garcia as their new manager after confirming they have reached an agreement with the former Getafe man.

Baniyas had a shortlist of candidates but opted for the Garcia, 41, after speaking to him about his “visions and objectives”, according to club sources.

Garica, who was sacked by Getafe in March after spending three years at the club, is expected to arrive in the UAE in the coming days to sign a formal agreement and he could be in charge as early as next week’s friendly tournament being hosted by Baniyas, where the UAE Olympic team, Oman’s Dhofar and Bahraini club Al Hadd will also be taking part. The friendly tournament will help Garcia assess his squad before he goes to the Baniyas management with his list of requirements for next Arabian Gulf League (AGL) season. The club officials have made it clear they will not be signing any foreign players without the new coach’s approval.

Baniyas had been looking for a coach since deciding against giving Adnan Hamad an extension in May. The Iraqi had signed a six-month deal in February to replace Jorge da Silva, but the club had managed to win just two of their 10 matches under his guidance, and lost seven.

Elsewhere in the AGL, promoted club Kalba have signed Al Ain midfielder Sultan Nasser on a one-year deal, while Al Wasl have brought in another player, midfielder Mohammed Salem, on loan from Al Ain.

Salem is the seventh new signing by Wasl and third Al Ain player to move to the Zabeel Stadium this off-season, following the arrival of Hazza Salem and Salem Abdullah on a one-year loan deal in exchange for Rashid Ali, who moved to the other side.

Wasl have also signed goalkeeper Yousuf Al Zaabi from Al Nasr, Al Jazira’s Salem Masoud, Abdullah Saleh of Al Shaab and Brazilian striker Neto Berola.

“The Al Wasl management is determined to erase the negative image that has appeared following our results last season,” said Mohammed Al Ameri, a member of Wasl’s board of directors.

“We are trying to correct the path of the team in the next season and this contract is part of our policy to strengthen the squad with good players.”

Al Shabab, meanwhile, have sent Sami Anbar on loan to the Ras Al Khaimah club Emirates and signed 21-year-old goalkeeper Mohammed Al Naqbi on a three-year deal from Al Wahda.