TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Rumor
LAFC head coach Bob Bradley has already leaned on his Egyptian connections to bring Omar Gaber to the 2018 expansion team, and rumor has it that two more of Gaber's compatriots could be joining him in Southern California.
According to a number of Egyptian outlets, as relayed by Angels on Parade, LAFC are in talks to sign Egyptian international Mahmoud "Trezeguet" Hassan (picture above, right) and have also shown interest in acquiring veteran attacking midfielder Abdallah Said:
Both Hassan and Said helped Egypt qualify for their first World Cup since 1990, and Said played under Bradley during the latter's tenure as manager of the Pharaohs from 2011-13.
Hassan, 23, is a right winger who currently plies his trade for Turkish outfit Kasimpasa, on loan from Anderlecht in Belgium. He found early success with his hometown club, Al-Ahly, and the Egyptian youth national teams before his transfer to Anderlecht in August 2015. However, he would only make eight league appearances for the Belgian powerhouse and has spent most of his time there on loan. At the international level, Hassan has two goals in 21 appearances.
Said, 32, has spent his whole career in his native country and currently plays for Al-Ahly, where he and Hassan helped the country's most successful club to back-to-back African Champions League titles in 2012 and 2013. He has 31 caps for the Egyptian national team and scored six goals, including one each in the team's World Cup qualification campaign and run to the final of the 2017 African Cup of Nations.
Should either of the two players sign, they would join Gaber and Mexican international Carlos Vela on LAFC's roster for their inaugural MLS season.
