Sahal Abdul Samad is close to completing a record-breaking move to Mohun Bagan from Kerala Blasters for a transfer fee close to 2.5 Crore, IFTWC can confirm.
Mohun Bagan is continuing to make headlines with their extraordinary transfer spree, reminiscent of the illustrious Galacticos era of Spanish giants Real Madrid. Following the record-breaking 3 Crore deal for Anirudh Thapa, the club is once again all set to send shockwaves through the Indian Football market by securing Sahal in a transfer worth around 2.5 Crore, making him one of the most expensive signings of all time in ISL history.
Discussions regarding Sahal’s transfer have been ongoing between the clubs for several weeks, and it is likely that the deal will involve a player exchange. While another club displayed genuine interest in acquiring the midfielder, Mohun Bagan has emerged as the front-runners and is set to secure his services.
Not only are Bagan set to rejuvenate their midfield; their defense has also received a significant boost with the addition of Anwar Ali. The loan deal, valued at a whopping 11 Crore, includes an annual salary of 2 Crore for the player, while the remainder is allocated to Delhi FC. In addition to making waves in the domestic market, they have also successfully added high-caliber foreign players, such as Jason Cummings, the second highest scorer in the A-League last season, and Armando Sadiku from FC Cartagena.
Sahal Abdul Samad joined Kerala Blasters in 2017 as a 20-year-old, and has since made 97 appearances for the senior team, scoring ten goals and providing nine assists. The midfielder comes fresh off the national team camp having featured in the last nine matches of India in the Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Championship. Sahal made his debut in 2018 under David James against erstwhile ATK, and has since established himself as a key player for the Blasters. The 26-year-old enjoyed one his best campaigns last season, scoring three goals and providing three assists in 23 appearances.
Sahal is now poised to become a part of Mohun Bagan’s formidable midfield, where he will be playing alongside an exceptional lineup of players such as Anirudh Thapa, Hugo Boumous, Glan Martins, Carl McHugh, Puitea, Lalrinliana Hnamte, and Deepak Tangri, among others.
Read: Sahal Abdul Samad’s reinvented goalscoring prowess upfront
Kerala Blasters have parted ways with some important players in this window, and Sahal is all set to be among the most notable names. Apart from the 26-year-old, they also bid farewell to Harmanjot Khabra, Nishu Kumar, Jessel Carneiro, and Denechandra Meitei. Ivan Vukomanovic’s side however has been vigilant and has added quality players in Prabir Das and Australian forward Jaushua Sotirio. Apart from them, they have also signed Sagolsem Bikash Singh, who will spend the next season on loan to Mohammedan.
The upcoming departure of Sahal undeniably poses a significant setback for the Blasters, as they will bid farewell to both a fan-favorite player and a midfield leader. Now, their focus will lie on the challenging task of finding a replacement for Sahal, which will undeniably be difficult.
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