Defending champions Abahani looked all set to retain their last season's squad for the coming B. League when they confirmed services of nine current national footballers on Thursday.
After the national squad's return from Narshingdi following a practice match, they completed formalities by signing eight of their players in addition to a new face late in the night for the second edition of the professional league.
The booters to show loyalty to the sky-blues are goalkeeper Biplab, defenders Nazrul, Waly Faisal, midfielders Joy, Abul, Zahed Parvez and forwards Ujjal and Emily.
Promising midfielder Mamunul Islam Mamun is the new recruit for Abahani, who are expected to sign the rest of the players early next week.
"Yes, we have secured contracts of all the players who are in the national squad. Our target was to free the players from any tension before the SAFF Championship, so we got all the documents in hand," told manager Satyajit Das Rupu yesterday.
Rupu admitted that the top nine have been paid in advance substantial amounts for the season but made no comments on who would be the highest paid footballer for the season.
Reportedly, captain Joy and Nazrul -- the two veterans who returned to the national team from retirement -- along with striker Emily will be among the highest paid.
"No one wants to leave the team and we are trying hard to accommodate every one. It would also be good to have the same side for successive years," opined the former national footballer, also a member of the Bangladesh Football Federation.
Abahani also have eyes on national striker Robin, who has been playing for the Dhanmondi outfit in recent tournaments and defender Sony.
"We will complete negotiation with the others and hope to announce the team soon," added Rupu.
Abahani, who will travel to Malaysia to play the AFC President's Cup from June 22-26, still have former national players Tarek and Siraji -- ignored for the SAFF Championship -- apart from experienced ones like Pradeep, Abdullah Parvez, Pranotosh, Mintu and Sujan -- who missed the entire last season through injury -- in the reserve.
Unlike the past, players don't have to be present during the transfer and all a team have to do is hand over the registration forms, properly signed by the players, to the authority.
This year's transfer, however, is going to be a very difficult one for the footballers with most of the teams going through financial crisis including giants like Muktijoddha Sangsad and Brothers Union.
Muktijoddha virtually have no committee to run the show but it was learned that officials and players have reached the high-ups of the ministry in a bid to maintain their strength.
Brothers have yet to decide on their future but the Gopibagh side, who won successive titles in the last seasons of the now-defunct Premier League, are also hopeful to get the fund to strengthen the squad.
Mohammedan and Sheikh Russel are apparently in a better position than Muktijoddha and Brothers, having negotiated with their last season's booters. However, both are playing the waiting game to have a slice from Muktijoddha if they fail to get support for the football team.
Players fear that their remuneration will take a dip, especially after the clubs' so-called 'gentlemen's agreement' although officials have denied any such arrangement. There are allegations that many of the teams have yet to give full payments even for the last season.