Konyaspor make final push for Imam Ashour with promise of grander welcome than Salah

Konyaspor have increased their reported offer for Al Ahly midfielder Imam Ashour to $4.25m and say they remain determined to complete a deal for the Egypt international, despite Al Ahly insisting that no formal bid has reached the club.

The Turkish club had previously made lower proposals for Ashour during the current summer transfer window, but Al Ahly television and radio presenter Ahmed Shobier said Konyaspor had now raised its offer to $4.25m.

Speaking on his radio programme, Shobier said Al Ahly’s position was that it had not received an official offer from the Turkish side. He added that the Egyptian club believed attempts were being made to create a dispute around Ashour and unsettle the squad.

Konyaspor, however, have presented a different account of events. Shobier quoted a member of the Turkish club’s board as saying that the improved offer had been sent and that Al Ahly should check its official email account to confirm its arrival.

According to Shobier, the Konyaspor official also described the proposal as the club’s final offer for Ashour and repeated the club’s desire to reach an agreement for the player.

The board member reportedly said Konyaspor wanted to receive and celebrate Ashour “in a better way than what happened with Mohamed Salah” after the Egypt forward’s move to Trabzonspor.

Salah’s transfer to Trabzonspor generated considerable excitement in Turkey and was followed by a large public welcome and celebration. Konyaspor’s suggestion that it would stage an even bigger reception for Ashour has therefore attracted particular attention.

Shobier also said Konyaspor were closely following developments involving Ashour while Al Ahly continued their training camp in Spain. The Turkish club was said to have information about the midfielder’s position on offers from clubs in the Gulf region, with Shobier stating that Ashour did not favour a move to the Gulf.

The report comes as Al Ahly maintain a firm stance over the future of their key players. Shobier said the Egyptian champions did not want to lose any of their important squad members during this transfer window unless they received a financial proposal too substantial to reject.

Ashour was listed alongside Mostafa Shobier, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany and Marwan Attia among the players Al Ahly are keen to keep for the coming season.

The contrasting claims leave the reported transfer at an uncertain stage. While Konyaspor insist they have submitted an improved and final proposal, Al Ahly continue to say that no official offer has been received.

Konyaspor’s interest in Ashour has nevertheless returned the midfielder to the centre of attention among Turkish clubs, with the club’s reported promise of a major welcome adding another element to the developing transfer story.