Maccabi Tel Aviv are bracing for another summer of suitors circling their back line. According to ONE, centre-back Tyrese Asante has emerged as a target for three clubs, with Serie A side Lecce leading the interest.
The 24-year-old Dutchman has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Israeli Premier League over the past two seasons, and ONE reports Lecce see him as a genuine option to reinforce their defence for next season.
There is a neat subplot to the Lecce interest: the Puglia club is already home to Omri Gandelman, the Israel international midfielder who joined from Belgium's KAA Gent in January. Should Asante follow him south, the two would become teammates in Serie A.
Gandelman signed with Lecce on a contract running until June 2029, with an option for a further year, after two prolific seasons in Belgium. A move for Asante would give the club a second player with deep ties to Israeli football.
ONE's report adds that Monza continue to monitor Asante's situation, while Kasımpaşa of Turkey have gone furthest of all, submitting a formal offer for the defender.
That Monza interest is not solely an Israeli-media story. The Dutch outlet VoetbalPrimeur reported separately this summer that Monza were among several clubs monitoring Asante, describing him there as a six-time Netherlands under-21 international drawing attention from multiple directions.
Asante arrived at Maccabi Tel Aviv in July 2024 on a three-year deal after three seasons with ADO Den Haag, where he made 89 league appearances. Born in The Hague and of Ghanaian descent, he came through the Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam academies before his senior breakthrough.
Nothing is close to being finalised. ONE frames the coming weeks as pivotal for the player's next move, but no fee, contract length or timeline has been reported for any of the three suitors, and Maccabi Tel Aviv have made no public comment on the interest.
