Maccabi Netanya Misses Out on Key Signings, Eyes Free Agents

Maccabi Netanya is attempting to strengthen its squad on the final day of the transfer window, but negotiations for two midfield targets have failed. The club was pursuing Malian midfielder Habib Keita, who plays for Kolsasspor, but the deal collapsed when his team demanded €700,000. This demand came despite Keita being informed he was a free agent, though his contract stipulated that any purchasing club must pay Toulouse, his former team, a transfer fee.

Following the breakdown of talks with Keita, who was proposed by agent Frank Balhasan, Netanya turned its attention to Ivorian midfielder Assane Kone, 26, who belongs to Italian club Frosinone. Kone initially agreed to join Netanya, but later rescinded his decision after receiving offers from Romanian club Cluj and second-division Italian teams.

Despite these setbacks, Maccabi Netanya stated that if a midfielder is not signed immediately, they will explore the free agent market. The club has received approval from owner Ruslan Kasyanov to sign another high-caliber player, with Kasyanov expressing strong confidence in coach Roni Levi. "Rus trusts Roni Levi immensely as a leading coach in Israeli football and will give him whatever he wants. Rus has a strong desire to strengthen," a club source said.

In other team news, William Cipriano will remain with the club after refusing a severance package. Netanya is also working to reach a financial settlement with Itay Ben Shabbat, whose salary the club initially refused to cover during his potential loan to Hapoel Petah Tikva. If no new team is found for Ben Shabbat, Netanya will likely have to pay his full salary. Additionally, midfielder Dolev Haziza suffered an injury after the loss to Hapoel Ramat Gan and underwent an MRI, with results expected later today.