Brothers Union and Mohammedan came alive in the transfer market in the last two days to strengthen their squads for this year's B. League.
Mohammedan, runners-up of the inaugural professional football league last year, confirmed seven national footballers including four Muktijoddha players.
Although Hassan Al Mamun's service was secured yesterday, the local giants signed goalkeeper Aminul, defender Rajani and midfielder Arman Aziz from Muktijoddha on the previous day.
Farashganj's impressive striker Robin, who was believed to head for Abahani, and Youngmen's forward Komol both signed for the black and whites apart from Chittagong Mohammedan stopper Saikat.
With the national team due to leave Dhaka tomorrow for Bangkok en route to Colombo for the SAFF Football Championship, Mohammedan did not want play the waiting game.
Brothers, on the other hand, finally solved their financial crisis and all but built their squad on Saturday night.
The biggest catch of the Gopibagh outfit is Abahani centre-back Mohammed Sujan, who was out of action for the entire last season due to injury.
The ex-international, who reportedly took Tk 10 lakh -- over half of his contract money -- from Abahani for 2007, was believed to stay with the sky-blues but became the highest played Brothers player for the same amount.
Brothers manager Amer Khan, however, said he was ready to negotiate with Abahani over Sujan.
"He was our 2005 captain and I saw him play yesterday against the national team. I believe Sujan's fitness level has reached a satisfactory standard and had the national team considered him taking into the camp, he would have been set to play in the SAFF Championship," Amer opined.
"Abahani also left him in the bench but I want a player of Sujan's standard to play. Abahani did not register him last season, so he is a free player. We legally own him.
"But for the money he took from Abahani last season, many feel that he has an obligation to play for them this years. There is still opportunities to talk (with Abahani)," added the former Brothers midfielder.
Amer said that the club have already started talks with former Sri Lankan international Pakir Ali, a household name in Dhaka in the 80s, to take over the side as coach.
Brothers, whose budget would cross Tk one crore, are set to retain old players like Shuvra, Shahnur Rony, Shakil, Masud, Masud Rana and Tapu.
Jewel Rana is likely to retire this season and wants to return to his old club Mohammedan but Amer says that a player like him deserves the best.
"I would also like to keep Jewel but if Mohammedan properly treat him, I'll let him go," said Amer. "Otherwise he would remain with full honour at Brothers."
Brothers have also completed formalities with Sheikh Russel goalkeepers Zia and Shakil and Mishu and Rikto, rising Mohammedan stars Ariful and Zahid, Farashganj's Arup and Rony Islam, Arambagh midfielder Juku, Victoria forward Mithun and Abahani winger Abdullah Parvez.
"We have paid the booters handsomely and they are very happy."
The migration of the Muktijoddha booters confirmed that they are destined to build a team for just survival in the professional league.