Cavin Johnson weighs in on Percy Tau’s Saudi Arabia interest

Former Al Ahly assistant coach Cavin Johnson has weighed in on the transfer interest in Percy Tau from Saudi Arabia.

Al-Shabab is interested in signing the 29-year-old Al Ahly star, as suggested by reports.

With one year left on his contract, Tau is a valuable asset to Ahly and has been a key player since the arrival of Coach Marcel Koller.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns ace had a stellar season last year, scoring 10 goals and setting up seven others, as his team won five trophies, including the CAF Champions League and Egyptian Premier League.

The club that finished fourth last season is interested in the Bafana Bafana star, and speculation is mounting that he could be moving to Saudi Arabia.

WHAT CAVIN JOHNSON SAID ABOUT PERCY TAU’S POTENTIAL MOVE?

Johnson, who spent two years at Al Ahly, believes the move would be good for the South African international.

“The changes happening in the Saudi league. The fact that they’re taking quite a few top players means that they want to do something or something is happening within the Saudi FA, allowing them to attract players like Neymar, Benzema, Ronaldo and Mahrez,” Johnson told FARPost. 

“In all respect to them, those players, for me, are still at their prime. It will up that league by at least three or four notches. It’ll just get better.

“Percy Tau has done very well for Al Ahly, and the fact that those players I mentioned are in Saudi and Percy goes there, he can only get better.”

Ahly’s selling policy convinced him that they would certainly consider letting him go if the asking price is right.

Al Ahly parted ways with striker Mohamed Sherif, who signed for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Khaleej. Like Tau, he had a year left on his contract.

Interestingly, the club has signed 23-year-old Moroccan forward Reda Slim from Botola Pro champions AS FAR Rabat. Slim is a direct competitor with Tau on the right side of attack.

AL AHLY COULD CONSIDER SELLING HIM

“If there’s interest in Saudi, probably Ahly will sell him. In the end, it’s about the money. For any football team, any football player, it’s about money. He’s turning 30. He would be fine with another four years in Saudi,” he added.

“When I look at the history of Ahly and how they treat foreign players. Yes, Percy has given them a good return. He’s getting into his third season. 

“Sometimes they don’t make it go too long. Three seasons is probably the most. I don’t think Percy will be there for too long.”

Tau’s future could be resolved in the coming weeks because the transfer window in Saudi Arabia closes on September 20, 2023.

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