Maccabi Haifa Nearing Deal for Portuguese Winger Pedro Brazão

Israeli football club Maccabi Haifa is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to sign Portuguese winger Pedro Brazão from the Turkish second division club Bodrum. Brazão was notably left out of Bodrum's squad for their match on Thursday against Erokspor, signaling his imminent departure.

Maccabi Haifa had previously shown interest in Brazão earlier in the summer, with their pursuit intensifying after an injury to player Manuel Benson. Initial demands from Bodrum were around 2 million euros, a figure Maccabi Haifa deemed too high at the time. Brazão himself was initially hesitant to move to Israel, preferring to play in a more prominent European league, and other clubs expressed interest but no deal materialized.

As European transfer windows closed, Brazão's options narrowed, making a move to Maccabi Haifa more appealing to him. Concurrently, Bodrum reduced their asking price by approximately half, making the transfer financially feasible for the Israeli club.

Brazão reportedly consulted with players who have previously played in Israel, including Willian Cipprian of Maccabi Netanya and Dylan Batubinsika, who recommended the move to Haifa. Maccabi Haifa confirmed negotiations, stating their strong need for reinforcements in that position and emphasizing the importance of securing the signing.