Athletic Bilbao forward Djalo close to Qatar move

Alvaro Djalo's disappointing spell at Athletic Club Bilbao looks to have ended after just one season with the Basque outfit confirming the forward has been given permission to travel to Qatar to discuss a loan deal with Qatari outfit Al-Gharafa.

"Athletic Club has granted him permission to travel to Qatar so that he can make progress in his talks for a possible loan move to Al-Gharafa SC," confirmed the club on its social media sites on Tuesday.

25-year-old Djalo joined Athletic Bilbao from Sporting Braga a year ago for 15 million euros, becoming the third most expensive signing in the club's history, but was a big disappointment, scoring just once in 28 appearances in all competitions.

The signing of Robert Navarro on a free transfer from Mallorca this summer and the club's decision to give a contract to striker Urko Izeta after his excellent season look to have further limited Djalo's options and with the loan deal containing an option for Al-Gharafa to make the move permanent, he looks unlikely to return.