I-League: Mohammedan Sporting in talks with Lebanese striker

Durand Cup holders Mohammedan Sporting are on the verge of signing Lebanese striker Mustafa Shahin in the winter transfer window, Sportskeeda can reveal.

Mohammedan Sporting have agreed personal terms with the player and have applied for his ITC (International Transfer Certificate). It will be a loan move from Lebanese Premier League club Shabab Al Sahel with the contract running till the end of this I-League season.

Shahin, who will turn 25 later this year, is a former Lebanon under-23 international and will act as a direct replacement for Australian Tolgay Ozbey to fill Mohammedan’s Asian foreigner slot. He helped Shabab Al Sahel finish runners-up in the Lebanese FA Cup last season and made six league appearances for them this season.

Mohammedan Sporting coach Sanjoy Sen would be hoping that Shahin’s arrival will ease the burden on the club’s top scorer Josimar as they have struggled in front of goal even on their road to the IFA Shield final, where they face Bangladesh club Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi on Saturday.

If his ITC arrives on time, Shahin could be available for Mohammedan Sporting’s next I-League game against Pune FC on February 19.

Japanese on trial

In case Mohammedan fail to complete the Shahin move before the winter transfer window deadline of February 15, Japanese striker Taro Hasegawa remains an option.

34-year-old Hasegawa has played in the J-League previously for Kashiwa Reysol and Ventforet Mofu. He is currently on trials and trained with the Mohammedan Sporting squad on Thursday.