Hapoel Petah Tikva explains: "Omer Katz is not just another player"

Hapoel Petah Tikva removed from the agenda yesterday (Friday) the possibility of goalkeeper Omer Katz transferring to Maccabi Haifa, which had officially approached the club's management to acquire him. In initial talks between the clubs, the 'Greens' offered a sum of about half a million shekels, in addition to loaning players to Hapoel Petah Tikva, including midfielder Itay Ehud, who is sought by the team's coach, Omer Peretz.

Ultimately, Maccabi Haifa's offer was not attractive enough for Petah Tikva, and weighing several other reasons, it was decided to veto the transfer of Katz, who will remain for at least another season in the blue-and-white uniform.

"Omer Katz is not just another player here. He is one of the most veteran players on the team, a captain and a leader in the locker room, whose importance to Hapoel Petah Tikva goes far beyond being a goalkeeper. In addition to all this, it is not right to release our senior goalkeeper now without having alternative options, even if we had received five field players in return. Goalkeeper is a key position, especially when it comes to a goalkeeper who is a significant anchor for us on the team," explained a source at Hapoel Petah Tikva.

The professional staff continues to check options to add more players to the squad, which is far from complete. The club hopes to complete the signing of Bolivian defender Diego Arroyo this week, who received permission from his club, Shakhtar Donetsk, to move to Israel. After Arroyo lands in Israel, undergoes medical examinations, and officially signs, Petah Tikva will also wait for the international release from the Ukrainian club.

Petah Tikva is also looking for a foreign striker and a winger, and at this stage, the club's leaders are encountering difficulties in finding suitable players, both those who will fit the budget and those who will agree to come to Israel.