Striker Guy Melamed Demands Immediate Exit From Maccabi Haifa to Maccabi Tel Aviv

Striker Guy Melamed intends to demand an immediate release from Maccabi Haifa to join rival Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to reports. Melamed is eager for the transfer and is awaiting a meeting with Maccabi Haifa's sporting director, Lior Rafaelov, to express his desire to leave and request that the club not obstruct his move.

Maccabi Tel Aviv is pushing to sign Melamed, viewing him as a crucial addition to their forward line following the departure of Seyd Habouchi. The club sees Melamed as a player who can integrate well and compete with existing forwards Ester Sukler and Elad Madmon.

Melamed's contract with Maccabi Haifa runs until the end of the season, with a salary of $350,000, a figure Maccabi Tel Aviv can afford. Currently, he is not a preferred starter under coach Barak Bakhar, with Silve Kani and Andrea Novakovic often chosen ahead of him.

Maccabi Tel Aviv anticipates that Maccabi Haifa will create obstacles for the transfer, especially given the rivalry between the clubs. However, they believe the move is feasible if Melamed remains insistent on joining them. There is also reported interest from Maccabi Netanya, a move Maccabi Haifa would likely prefer over a transfer to their sworn enemy.

Maccabi Haifa issued a statement indicating that neither Melamed nor his representatives have approached them with a request to leave, therefore the matter is not currently under consideration.