Zamalek and rivals Ahly made no secret of their desire to land the robust 22-year-old, who is one of several targets sought by the Cairo giants in their bid to bolster their squads in the summer.

Mortada Mansour, the outspoken chairman of Zamalek, said the club had agreed to pay $1.8 million for Morocco’s Wydad to sign Evouna but that it was very difficult to accept the demands set by his agent.

"There are three agents representing Evouna. They asked for a commission of $500,000 and this was too much," Mansour told an Egyptian radio station.

"Neither I nor [Ahly chairman] Mahmoud Taher can pay that amount. If we do so, we will immediately go to jail !" he added.

Zamalek boast arguably the best Egyptian striker in Bassem Morsi, whose fine run earned him a call-up to the Egypt’s squad.