Yahoo News Stoke City striker linked with transfer to Saudi Arabia
Ryan Mmaee is being linked with a summer transfer to Saudi Arabia.
The 26-year-old striker seems to be at a crossroads in his Stoke City career after one year in England, having scored three times in a season pockmarked by injuries and questions about his attitude. He signed a three-year deal when he joined from Ferencvaros last summer but Ricky Martin, Jared Dublin and Alex Neil, who drove the recruitment at that time, have all since left the club and it is clear that Stoke are looking for new blood up front.
Now L'Equipe reporter Loic Tanzi has told his 170,000 followers on social media that Al-Kholood "have taken steps" to sign the Morocco international. Al-Kholood have just won promotion to the Saudi Arabian top flight and have been linked with South Africa forward Percy Tau, who plays for Egyptian club Al-Ahly.
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The club plays in Ar Rass at an 8,000-capacity stadium, which will be one of the smallest in the Pro League, but there will be games against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq and Roberto Firmino's Al-Ahli to look forward to over the next few months.
Stoke spent about an initial fee of about £1.75 million to bring in Mmaee from Hungary. He had spent time in Cyprus, Denmark and the Belgian lower leagues previously in his career.
He has 12 caps for Morocco but it was reported that he wasn't considered for selection earlier this year after being sent to train with the under-21s at Stoke. He returned to the first team fold apparently a little chastened but limped out of action in early April. He has been reporting to Clayton Wood through the close season as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
