Rui Borges target deemed “unavailable” as Sporting close in | OneFootball

Moncef Zekri is Sporting’s target to strengthen the left side of the defense and the Lions have already started talks for the KV Mechelen full-back. The Moroccan, just 17 years old, is seen as both an immediate and long-term investment for Rui Borges’ squad.

The possibility of a departure gained momentum after the match against Standard Liège. Zekri was left out of the matchday squad and, at the end of the game, Mechelen coach Vanderbiest confirmed that the youngster is “unavailable” to be considered.

The statement comes at a time when Sporting are looking to speed up the process and could be yet another sign that the full-back’s future is about to be decided. The green and whites want to find an alternative to Maxi Araújo for the left flank.

Zekri is one of the great promises of Moroccan football and, despite his young age, he already has experience with Mechelen’s first team. Sporting have been monitoring the player for some time and have decided to move forward with contacts aimed at signing him.

The deal still requires an agreement between the clubs, but the fact that the youngster was left out of Mechelen’s options raises expectations over a possible departure. Alvalade appears as one of the destinations on the table.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.