Maccabi Haifa Nears Signing of New Left-Back Amid Injury Crisis

Israeli football club Maccabi Haifa is reportedly close to signing a new left-back to bolster its squad, currently facing a shortage of natural players in that position due to long-term injuries to Pierre Cornud and Yinon Feingold. The club is in negotiations with two primary candidates: Kenneth Paal from Suriname and Lucas Barboza from Brazil.

Paal, who has spoken with players familiar with Israeli football and is friends with Manuel Benson and Charon Sherry, is reportedly eager to join Maccabi Haifa. He is not part of Turkish club Antalyaspor's plans and is training separately, with his current club looking to offload him due to his high salary relative to the Turkish second division. This potential move appears straightforward for Haifa.

Regarding Barboza, his current club is willing to sell him. Maccabi Haifa has proposed a loan deal with an option to buy. If either of these signings materializes, the club is expected to release or freeze the contract of current player Pedrão.