Hapoel Petah Tikva are working to tie down one of their most improved players of the last two seasons, with ONE reporting that the club and forward Shavit Mazal are in advanced talks over an upgraded, long-term contract.
The 24-year-old, who already has a deal in place at HaMoshava, would see his terms extended and improved under the reported agreement, which the club hopes will cement him as one of its senior Israeli players for years to come.
Mazal's existing contract already worked in the club's favour once this year. According to the report, Beitar Jerusalem tried to sign him last summer but were unable to prise him away from Petah Tikva, whose hold on his registration killed the move before it could gather pace.
Maccabi Haifa have also made informal enquiries about the forward more recently, ONE says, though those contacts have not developed into serious negotiations.
On the pitch, Mazal has made himself difficult to dislodge from Omer Peretz's side, scoring five league goals last season while operating both as an out-and-out forward and further back as an attacking midfielder, giving the manager a flexible option in the final third.
Barring a late surprise, the two sides are expected to finalise terms within the coming weeks, according to the report, with Mazal set to put pen to paper on fresh terms that reward a breakout campaign in Petah Tikva colours.
