Hapoel Be'er Sheva Pursues Eden Kartsev, Player Declines Return to Israel

Hapoel Be'er Sheva expressed interest in signing Israeli midfielder Eden Kartsev, who currently plays for Shenzhen FC in the Chinese Super League. The club's coaching staff was keen on acquiring the player to strengthen their squad before the transfer window closes. However, Kartsev informed Be'er Sheva that he is not interested in returning to Israel at this time.

Kartsev made 22 appearances for Shenzhen during the 2025/2026 season, scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists. His decision means Be'er Sheva must look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements, especially after their pursuit of Yarin Levy also fell through.

Meanwhile, Hapoel Be'er Sheva is preparing for their upcoming match against Hapoel Petah Tikva. Striker Igor Zlatanovic is fit and will return to the squad. Midfielder Hamoudi Kanaan is also expected to be available and is in contention for a starting spot, potentially replacing the suspended Eliel Peretz. Coach Ran Kochav faces a decision between Kanaan and Zahy Ahmed for the starting lineup.

Defender Jibril Diop might step in for the injured Itay Rotman, while Lucas Ventura remains unavailable. The team emphasized the importance of securing three points in the upcoming game to stay competitive at the top of the league table, stating, "We must take three points, we owe it to ourselves, we cannot let the top spots in the table get away from us."