Report: Former New York Red Bulls' transfer target joins SC Tripoli

Does the name Abdul Aziz Yusif ring a bell? If it does, it might be because the 23-year-old (24 in November,or maybe a little older - per some reports) forward was linked to the New York Red Bulls back in May. And then un-linked. But in the process of killing the rumor, RBNY head coach Jesse Marsch let slip that Yusif was indeed a player the Red Bulls had been watching. They may still be watching him for all we know - but he's no longer a free agent.

Finally, after leaving Egyptian club Smouha FC in January, Yusif has found a new team. He has signed with SC Tripoli of the Lebanese Premier League. His new club won the Lebanese FA Cup in 2014-15 and will compete in the 2016 AFC Cup, Asia's secondary intra-continental club competition (the AFC Champions League being the more prestigious tournament).

In an interview with Goal.com, the player attributed his decision to move to Lebanon to encouragement from Michael Helegbe, a former teammate of Yusif's at Asante Kotoko in Ghana, who is now enjoying some success with Tripoli.

Tripoli finished fourth in last season's LPL. The new league season kicks off in October. Yusif is reported to have signed a two-year contract, so if he is still on RBNY's watch-list, he's now a target that would require a transfer fee to sign. The Red Bulls are, of course, well stocked with attacking players, so perhaps whatever interest there was in Yusif ended with the short-lived rumor linking him to the club in May.