Sporting prepare bid for Moncef Zekri, figures revealed | OneFootball

Moncef Zekri is the left-back chosen by Sporting to strengthen Rui Borges’ squad and round off this transfer window. The Lions are preparing an offer of between €3 million and €4 million for the 17-year-old, who belongs to Mechelen.

According to the newspaper A Bola, the formal offer is expected to reach the Belgian club later this week. Zekri, who turns 18 on September 20, is seen as one of the great prospects of Moroccan football and already has experience in Belgium’s top division, having made 17 appearances for Mechelen’s first team last season.

Sporting’s intention is to secure an immediate alternative to Maxi Araújo, following Ricardo Mangas’ move to Monza. The Uruguayan recently renewed his contract until 2030 and remains the first choice on the left flank, but the SAD sees Moncef Zekri as a solution capable of developing in the shadow of the 'number 20' and, in the future, taking on a bigger role.

A Morocco under-17 international and African champion in the category in 2025, the full-back was born in Brussels and came through Mechelen’s entire youth system. Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen have also reportedly shown interest, but the player recently renewed with the Belgian club until 2028.

If the deal goes ahead, Zekri is expected to sign for five seasons, until 2031, with a release clause that could reach €80 million. Unless there is an unexpected departure in the final stretch of the transfer window, the signing of the left-back should complete Sporting’s squad for 2026/27.

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