Ali Al-Habsi is reportedly attracting interest from Nottingham Forest and Sunderland.
Ali Al Habsi of Reading
According to the Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland are both interested in snapping up goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi from Al-Hilal.
Al-Habsi, 36, first made the move to England way back in 2006, joining Bolton Wanderers from Lyn Oslo in Norway, and he also had spells with Wigan Athletic and Brighton and Hove Albion before heading to Reading in 2015.
The Oman international was a key player at the Madejski Stadium, making nearly 100 appearances for the Royals before leaving English football at the end of last season, moving to Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal.
Al-Habsi has played just six times for Al-Hilal, and is already being linked with a move back to England, as the Daily Mail claim that Nottingham Forest and Sunderland are both interested.
However, it’s stated that Al-Habsi earns a whopping £90,000-a-week in wages with Al-Hilal, and whilst that could be subsidised in a loan move, he would still be pricey.
Having struggled for playing time, Al-Habsi may well fancy a move back to England, and Forest or Sunderland make sense as possible destinations.
Forest do have Jordan Smith and Stephen Henderson, but have long been pursuing a new goalkeeper, and they could now look to take Al-Habsi on loan – despite not having a manager following Mark Warburton’s exit.
Meanwhile, Sunderland signed both Robbin Ruiter and Jason Steele over the summer, but neither have impressed, and new boss Chris Coleman may now look to make Al-Habsi his new first choice.
Ali Al-Habsi of Reading
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