Maccabi Haifa Increases Pressure on Peter Agaba Amid Foreign Player Quota Issues

Maccabi Haifa is intensifying efforts to offload midfielder Peter Agaba due to foreign player registration limits ahead of the new season. The club cannot register new signing Andreja Novaković because they already have eight foreign players on the roster, forcing them to reduce the number of foreign players. Haifa is seeking to loan or sell Agaba, but he has rejected offers from Russia and Greece. With the league starting in nine days, the club is increasing pressure on Agaba to accept a move, though he remains firm in refusing current proposals.

If Agaba does not leave, Haifa will have to either freeze or release a player to make room for Novaković. Freezing Agaba would require the club to immediately pay his full contract salary, estimated at 800,000 euros over three years, and he could leave for any club if he finds one. Haifa hopes to recoup part of their 1.2 million euro investment from last season but is considering freezing Brazilian defender Pedro, who has only a one-year contract, as an alternative. The coaching staff prefers not to choose between Novaković and Pedro, as Pedro is currently part of their plans unless a new foreign midfielder arrives.

Separately, Haifa is close to finalizing a loan deal for goalkeeper Omer Nir'on from Maccabi Netanya. Nir'on will undergo medical tests before signing a one-season loan contract with purchase options. Meanwhile, Itay Ehud is expected to leave Haifa on loan to Hapoel Petah Tikva, where he is highly sought after.