Hapoel Tel Aviv Awaits Gorpinel’s Decision on Left-Back Reinforcement

Hapoel Tel Aviv are working to strengthen their squad for next season, with left back a priority after the departures of Yizan Nassar to Hapoel Petah Tikva and Ziv Morgan. The club wants a player who can compete with Doron Leidner for a place in the starting lineup, especially since Leidner made only 23 league appearances this season, some as a substitute, and has played regularly only sparingly since the 2021/22 campaign.

Former Hapoel player Yahav Gorpinel is the leading candidate for the position. However, he still has one year left on his contract with Cypriot side AEK Larnaca and has not yet decided whether to return to Israel. If he does come back, he is expected to sign a two-year deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv.

If Gorpinel does not return, Hapoel are likely to pursue another Israeli player for the role. That is because, after the anticipated signing of Thiomoko Diarra, the club will not have room for another foreign player in the squad.

Meanwhile, left back Ofer Gelbard, who was loaned to Maccabi Yavneh in the summer and returned in January to the club’s youth team, is expected to go out on loan again. He is being sought by Hapoel Kfar Saba of the Liga Leumit.