Striker Guy Melamed Demands Immediate Transfer from Maccabi Haifa to Maccabi Tel Aviv

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

Maccabi Tel Aviv is reportedly pushing hard to sign Melamed, viewing him as a crucial addition to their forward line following the departure of Seyd Aboul-Foul. The club sees Melamed as a player who can effectively 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 approximately $350,000, a figure Maccabi Tel Aviv can afford. Currently, Melamed is not a preferred starter under coach Barak Bakhar, with Silva Kani and Andrea Novakovic often chosen ahead of him.

Maccabi Tel Aviv anticipates that Maccabi Haifa will create obstacles for the transfer, especially given their status as fierce rivals. 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 archrivals.

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