Maccabi Haifa Nears 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. Brazão was notably absent from his current team, Bodrum's, squad for their match against Erokspor on Thursday, signaling his potential departure.

Maccabi Haifa had previously expressed interest in Brazão earlier in the summer, particularly after an injury to Manuel Benson. However, initial negotiations stalled due to Bodrum's asking price of nearly €2 million, which Haifa deemed too high. Brazão himself was initially hesitant to move to Israel, preferring to play in a more prominent European league, and other clubs showed interest but no deal materialized.

As European transfer windows closed and other options faded, the possibility of joining Maccabi Haifa became more viable for Brazão. Concurrently, Bodrum reportedly lowered their demands by approximately half, making the transfer financially feasible for the Israeli club.

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