Title: Financial Hurdles Impact Persepolis FC’s Player Transfers, Official Explains
In an exclusive interview following his departure from Persepolis FC, Mehrad Khanban provided a detailed account of the club’s recent transfer market activities, citing financial constraints as the primary reason for failing to secure key targets.
Financial Limitations Hinder Key Signings
Khanban explained that the club was unable to proceed with several prospective player acquisitions due to an inability to meet the requested transfer fees. He emphasized that despite mutual interest from the players themselves, financial agreements could not be reached with their respective clubs. This situation notably affected the high-profile potential transfer of Shahriar Moghanlou. Khanban confirmed the player’s strong desire to join Persepolis, but a financial understanding between the two clubs proved unattainable, forcing Persepolis to begin the season with a shortage in the striker position.
A Missed Opportunity in the Striking Role
Elaborating on the club’s search for reinforcements, Khanban revealed that a significant number of players, including many foreign options, were scouted during the team’s camp in Turkey. He pinpointed a specific missed opportunity: Blaž Kramer, a striker for the Slovenian national team. Described as the “perfect partner” for Ali Alipour, Kramer possessed a strong physical presence and excellent technical skills. However, the transfer fee of approximately 1.6 million euros demanded by his club was beyond Persepolis’s means at that time.
Strategic Decisions and Market Timing
Khanban outlined the strategic thinking behind the club’s movements. Initially, the management was hesitant to allocate significant funds for foreign signings, leading to the lapse of several options. By the time the club’s leadership decided to increase the transfer budget, key targets like Kramer were no longer available, as rivals such as Esteghlal had entered the market. Furthermore, the departure of Sardar Dorsun was a calculated move to free up space for a new striker, a plan that ultimately could not be realized with Moghanlou. Consequently, Persepolis commenced the competition with a limited roster of strikers.