Be'er Sheva Faces Contract Battle to Retain Key Player Eliel Peretz Amid Champions League Bid

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is preparing for a crucial Champions League qualifying match against Sabah on Tuesday, with the potential to make history by advancing to the group stage. Amid this sporting milestone, the club and owner Alona Barkat face a critical decision regarding star player Eliel Peretz, who is currently in the final year of his contract.

According to Nir Klinger on the sports show "Yetzia HaItonut," Barkat is aware that both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa are aggressively pursuing Peretz. These clubs are reportedly prepared to offer a lucrative contract of three years, with a net salary ranging between 400,000 and 500,000 euros per season, sums that Be'er Sheva typically does not pay Israeli players.

Klinger emphasized that if Be'er Sheva qualifies for the Champions League, Barkat will be determined to keep Peretz, making it harder for rival clubs to lure him away. Conversely, if the club fails to qualify, retaining him will be more challenging. Eli Ohana, another club figure, highlighted Peretz's importance not only for European competition but also for domestic league success, stating that Barkat will likely pay around 300,000 euros to secure his services and must do everything possible to retain him.

The situation underscores a pivotal moment for Be'er Sheva as they balance historic sporting ambitions with the need to maintain their top talent amid strong competition from Israel's leading clubs.