Al Ahly are now reportedly chasing a foreign forward, amid question marks around Percy Tau's future at the club.
The Red Devils have been linked with Guinea-Bissau international Alexandre Mendy, with the club keen on landing a striker in the current transfer window, according to Egyptian sport analyst Mohamed Shabana.
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The 30-year-old currently represents second-tier French side SM Caen, for whom he made 39 appearances across all competitions over the course of the 2023/24 campaign, netting 23 times and picking up two assists.
It has been claimed that the centre-forward wants a move away from the French club and is training alone after not joining his side on pre-season trip to Switzerland.
The attacker has also been heavily linked with a move to EFL Championship side Sunderland, but Shabana claims the 13-time CAF Champions League champions have the player high on their wish list.
"Alexandre Mendy is among the strikers nominated to move to Al Ahly," he said, per Presbee.
"He used to play for the French team Caen, and he is among the interests.
"He was nominated by the planning committee, and the club's management is intensifying its efforts to contract a foreign striker during the coming period."
The analyst went on to add that Tau will have talks with Red Devils CEO Amir Tawfik regarding his future on the weekend, with it believed this discussion could determine whether the player stays or goes in this window.
It has further been claimed that there remains concern around the former Brighton Hove Albion star's struggles with injuries this season.
The South African was ruled out for an extended period earlier in the campaign with an ankle injury. More recently, he was sidelined once more as a result of picking a second-degree hamstring strain while on international duty last month.
He did, however, return to action last week, marking his return with a goal as he helped his side to a 2-1 victory over Modern Future.
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Reports indicate that an unnamed club from the United Arab Emirates are set to submit an official bid to Al Ahly for the forward's service after they were said to have offered the star a mouth-watering annual salary of $2 million (R36 million).