Hapoel Be'er Sheva Advances in Champions League Playoffs While Negotiating with Defender Gonzalez

Hapoel Be'er Sheva has returned to Israel after securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League playoff round. On Wednesday, the team will face Sabah FC in their new stadium in Bucharest for the first leg of a two-match series that could send Be'er Sheva to the Champions League group stage for the first time in history. Prior to that, on Sunday, coach Ran Kozluk's squad will play Hapoel Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium in a Toto Cup match for fifth place, where Kozluk is expected to rotate the lineup extensively.

Meanwhile, Be'er Sheva is in active negotiations with Cameroonian defender Omar Gonzalez, who recently ended his contract with Al Sadd in Saudi Arabia and is currently a free agent. Sources close to Gonzalez confirmed to Sport 5 that a Zoom call took place with Be'er Sheva representatives, expressing immediate interest in signing him. Gonzalez, 28, last played on May 13 and will require time to regain match fitness.

Gonzalez boasts an impressive career record, including 30 appearances in France's Ligue 1, 74 in Ligue 2, and 58 in the Saudi Professional League, where he also served as captain. Known for his speed and goal-scoring ability, he has scored 19 career goals, six of which came in Saudi Arabia. His playing style aligns well with Kozluk's high-press tactics. The club, however, indicated there may be a short wait before finalizing the signing.