AFC Wimbledon are looking for upwards of £1 million to sell star striker Ali Al-Hamadi amid interest from a number of clubs in the Championship, including promotion hopefuls Leeds United and Sunderland.
The Iraq international has scored four goals and registered five assists for the Dons so far, hoping to beat last season’s tally of 10 goals and one assist in 19 games upon moving to Plough Lane from Wycombe Wanderers.
Al-Hamadi’s impressive form reportedly garnered interest from the Black Cats, who sent scouts out to watch Wimbledon’s goalless draw with Barrow in League Two a fortnight ago, according to Sunderland Nation. However, the South London Press revealed on Friday that Leeds had also entered the race for Al-Hamadi.
Now, journalist Darren Witcoop has revealed that four more clubs are keeping tabs on the ex-Swansea City attacker ahead of the January transfer window; Hull City, Bristol City, Stoke City and Cardiff City.
Witcoop has also claimed that Wimbledon are holding out for £1 million when the winter market opens after the club rejected summer bids from League One outfits Peterborough United and Barnsley.
AFC Wimbledon’s Ali Al-Hamadi one to watch in Jan. Hull, Cardiff, Bristol City & Stoke among Championship clubs to watch the Iraq striker in recent weeks. Wimbledon want £1m-plus after rejecting bids from Barnsley and Peterborough in summer. #hcafc #CardiffCity #bcfc #SCFC #AFCW
— Darren Witcoop (@DarrenOWitcoop) November 4, 2023
Al-Hamadi scored on Saturday evening for Wimbledon in a 5-1 mauling of third-tier team Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup. The young centre-forward opened the scoring in the 23rd minute to help his side reach the second round of the prestigious competition.
As per Transfermarkt, the Dons’ most expensive departure in history was Ayoub Assal, who left the club this year for £989k, followed by Jack Rudoni’s sale to Huddersfield Town for £816k. The London-based club could break their own record by selling Al-Hamadi for £1 million this winter.
Writer’s View
Accumulating £1 million from the sale of Al-Hamadi would be an excellent piece of business by AFC Wimbledon, especially since the club only signed the number ‘9’ back in January.
However, it seems unlikely that any club in the Championship would pay this hefty asking price for the player given the jump to the second tier from the fourth could be hard to adapt to, thus making the deal a risky one.
