"We are exerting lots of efforts to secure Hamza's services as soon as possible," MCDR's football director Walid Howeidi told FilGoal.com.

"We are trying to persuade them to reduce their financial demands. We are looking to wrap up the deal right away to bolster our frontline ahead of the second half of the season."

Gouna put Hamza up for sale after the former Zamalek man fell out with head coach Anwar Salama.

FilGoal.com learned that Gouna put an EGP three-million price tag on Hamza's head.

The 29-year-old left his boyhood club Zamalek in 2009 to join Bundesliga side Mainz, where he spent a short fruitless spell.

He joined Ahli last summer but returned to Gouna ahead of the ongoing season after the Red Devils offloaded him.