Highly rated South African striker Fagrie Lakay has finally agreed to join Ceramica Cleopatra from fellow Egyptian Premier League side Pyramids FC, after an earlier failed move to the same club.
Last month, Lakay was touted for a loan move to Cleopatra, in a swap deal that would have seen Sadi Awujoola moving in the other direction.
The trio of Mohamed Reda, Youssef Nabih and Abdallah Magdy would also followed Lakay out the Pyramids exit door, as part of the same deal.
READ | Mhango called out: 'Gabadinho is our God, but…'
However, the former Cape Town City man was said to have rejected the move, unless he received his full salary for the next season up front, believed to have been around $600 000 (R10,5 million).
Ceramica pulled out of the deal, deeming the fee to be too steep to be paid in one instalment.
Just as it looked likely the 27-year-old would be staying with last season's league runners-up, it seems talks continued behind the scenes between the two clubs, with Pyramids particularly aggressive i in their pursuit Awujoola, who comes highly recommended.
According to Egyptian publication KingFut, The Nigerian forward ranked fourth for most assists in the league last term, providing seven, while placing third overall for goal contributions in the division, with a total of 18.
Ceramica, meanwhile, have an option to make Lakay's loan move a permanent one once it reaches its conclusion at the end of the season, which begins on October 30.
In some quarters, the bulky centre-forward-cum-winger was thought to be an option for Kaizer Chiefs, who did not succeed in their efforts to land the signature of his Pyramids teammate Fiston Mayele.
However, nothing tangible came of the speculation, with Amakhosi eventually unable to bolster their frontline ahead of the new Betway Premiership season.
READ: Hugo Broos issues BIG warning on Sundowns duo
Therefore, Lakay looks set to stay in Egypt for the foreseeable future, be it at Ceramica or back at Pyramids.
But all indications are that if the money is good, his parent club is willing to release him to seek a new challenge elsewhere.