Zamalek eye squad overhaul after another disappointing season

Zamalek are eyeing squad reinforcements in the close season after failing to end a league drought stretching back to 2004. The ailing Cairo giants, who are celebrating their centenary year, surrendered a six-point lead over Ahly to gift their arch rivals a seventh consecutive Egyptian Premier League triumph. Zamalek’s fresh youngsters failed to keep momentum when it mattered most to prompt coach Hossam Hassan, under whom the team finished as league runners up twice in a row, to look for new signings. The club have already tabled an official bid to sign ENPPI playmaker Walid Soliman and striker Ahmed Raouf, Ahram Online has learned. ENPPI fended off interest from Ahly and Zamalek to sign Soliman on several occasions although the Egyptian international made no secret of his desire to leave the petroleum club. Diminutive frontman Raouf scored a solitary goal this season, as he often complained of having to play on his own upfront. Zamalek are also reportedly seeking to sign Arab Contractors’ rising stars Mohamed Salah and Mohamed El-Nenni. Attacking midfielder Salah and holding midfielder El-Nenni impressed in Egypt’s African Youth Championship campaign few months ago. They are likely to leave Contractors following the team’s relegation to the second division. Hassan said recently he was targeting valuable additions to Zamalek’s squad after the majority of the team’s last-summer signings failed to prove their worth. The White Knights haven’t won any title since their Egyptian Cup triumph in 2008. From ahramonline .