Maccabi Haifa is deeply disappointed by the news of Manuel Benson’s severe injury. The winger will miss most, if not all, of the season, and the club understands it must alter its plans. The Greens wanted to see if Benson returned from his previous injury and make a decision toward the end of the transfer window, but now they will have to act more quickly.
Benson is expected to be deregistered from the Greens' foreign player roster, either by being released and having his contract terminated by mutual agreement, or by being frozen, which is the less desirable option. Haifa will sign another foreign player, but the major dilemma now is whether to immediately sign Ghanaian national team midfielder Kwasi Sibo or look for a foreign player in a more offensive position, the right wing, where Benson was designated to play.
Haifa has other options in the squad for this position in the form of Iyad Khalaili and Yair Mordechai, but they are more accustomed to playing on the left side, and the club is also considering Silva Kani, who has recently been deployed as a striker. The professional staff strongly wants to see the Ghanaian midfielder arrive and knows that he is very interested in signing with the team, allowing the deal to be finalized immediately.
The midfielder, who played in the last World Cup, is considered a free agent after completing his contract with Spain’s Oviedo.