West Brom reach agreement to take Egyptian centre-back Ali Gabr on loan, Zamalek president reveals
Albion have reached an agreement with Zamalek to sign centre-back Ali Gabr on loan until the end of the season, the Egyptian club’s president has announced.
The Baggies will pay Zamalek £438,000 to take the 29-year-old on a six-month loan, revealed Mortada Mansour.
Included in the deal is an option to buy Gabr for £1.1million in the summer, and Mansour claims there is a 15 per cent sell on clause in the eventuality Albion take up that offer.
Gabr is expected to be a cheap replacement for Jonny Evans, who could be sold this window, allowing funds to be directed up the other end of the pitch.
This agreement does not necessarily mean Evans is leaving. The Baggies could just be lining up their deals in preparation for the departure of their skipper, but sources in Egypt claim Gabr will join The Hawthorns this week.
“Zamalek will receive €500,000,” Mansour told Egyptian press. “Their first offer was for €200,000.”
Gabr plays alongside Ahmed Hegazi in the Egyptian national team, and would become the second defender of that country to join on loan this season.
Hegazi arrived in the summer from Zamalek’s rivals Al Ahly but impressed so much in the first half of the season that his move was made permanent in December for £4.5m.
Gabr and Hegazi caught the attention of previous head coach Tony Pulis at the 2017 African Cup of Nations and the Baggies have been tracking both ever since.
