Recent developments have reportedly caused Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller to make a U-turn on the future of Percy Tau, who has been linked with a move away from the club.
The South Africa international has been linked with a move to DStv Premiership side Kaizer Chiefs, with it also believed that the Red Devils have received offers for his signature from newly-promoted Saudi Pro League side Al Kholood and another Saudi club, Al Wehda.
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However, those proposals were said to have been deemed too "weak" by the Cairo club and, as a result, the Egyptian Premier League side are said to have rejected them, having reportedly put a price tag of between $2 million (about R36 million) and $3 million (R54 million) on the attacker.
While the sums offered may not have been enough to persuade the Ahly hierarchy into selling the player, it was claimed that they welcomed his departure amid criticism aimed at Tau's level of performance over the course of the 2023/24 campaign.
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The former Mamelodi Sundowns star also spent a considerable portion of the season on the sidelines due to injury, most recently sustaining a second-degree hamstring strain while on international duty in June.
The forward mad his return to action during an Egyptian Premier League match against Modern Future on Tuesday night, coming on as a substitute and marking his comeback with a 62nd-minute winner to help his team secure a 2-1 victory as they continue to push for another league title.
According to Egyptian media personality Mohamed Al-Laithi, a new decision has been made regarding Tau's future at the club.
"Koller had previously agreed to the departure of Moroccan Reda Slim and South African Percy Tau during the current summer transfer period, but his decision changed in the past few days," Al-Laithi told On Sport FM, per El Watan News.
He went on to claim that the reason behind the Swiss tactician's decision stemmed from a fear that the club would not be able to secure the services of players who are on the same level as the duo.
"Al Ahly's management has allocated small amounts to conclude new deals, which threatens the Swiss coach's ambition to include highly qualified players if Tau and Reda Slim leave," Al-Laithi added.
Recent reports suggest that the Red Devils had received a $400 000 (R7 million) offer from Rulani Mokwena's Wydad Athletic Club, and a $300 000 (R5.4 million) bid from fellow Moroccan team Raja Club Athletic, for Slim's services, with both sides looking to sign the player on a season-long loan deal.
Both offers are understood to have been rejected, and it is now claimed that Koller wants both players to stay at the club, and will only green-light their departures if "competent alternatives" are found.
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The Egyptian giants' hierarchy are said to have accepted the manager's request, especially considering that what has so far been tabled to them in previous bids has not been lucrative enough to accept.