The 27-year-old scored 15 goals in 26 AGL games last season, nearly half of the team’s tally (32), which went some way to securing the King’s survival. The prolific marksman is adamant he wants to leave the club, who say they will not meet his demands to double his annual salary to €3m.
“It looks likely he will leave,” said Sharjah media officer Adel Al Hammadi. “Wanderley is asking for double his wages. We cannot afford this. He has one year on his contract left but has another offer from another club in the UAE, Al Nasr I think. He’s asking for €3m, nearly double what he is being paid.
“There is a condition in his contract that says he has to inform the club of his intentions before a certain date if he wants to leave. This date has come so the contract has been renewed automatically.
“After the date came his agent said he didn’t want to sign and wanted €3m. After his performances and goals last season we are willing to raise his contract, but not this much.”
Wanderley has shone as Sharjah have struggled during his two seasons, netting 32 goals in 51 league appearances. His goals have been vital as the King staved off relegation in both campaigns, finishing third from bottom in 2014/15 and fourth bottom last season.
Wanderley finished third and fourth respectively in the AGL scoring charts in those campaigns. Sharjah and Nasr are in talks about Wanderley while a swap deal has also been tabled, but Al Hammadi doesn’t expect a decision to be made until the club’s new board is chosen at the end of the month.
Sharjah’s four-player foreign quota is currently taken up by four Brazilians, but defender Mauricio Ramos is also expected to exit. A decision on the future of playmakers Maicosuel and Ricardinho will be delayed until a replacement for Abdulaziz Al Anbari is announced.
The Emirati took interim charge in November following Paulo Bonamigo’s departure but left at the end of the season.
Wanderley would certainly be a smart signing for the Blue Wave, who were unable to effectively fill the void left by Ibrahima Toure last term. The former Senegalese international finished runner-up in the AGL scoring charts to Al Jazira hitman Mirko Vucinic with 18 strikes two seasons ago, while Brazilian Nilmar had 11 goals in 2015/16.
