The former Ahli youngster underwent a trial at Lierse last week but his late arrival in Belgium cost him a winter move.

"He should have undergone this trial before the deadline of the clubs' winter squad changes," a Lierse source, who refused to be named, told FilGoal.com on Friday.

"We wanted to have enough time to assess his performances and decide whether to sign him.

"But he took long time to obtain permission from the military authorities in Egypt to travel and thus missed the deadline to join us."

If Attwa moves to Lierse at the end of the season he will be the sixth Egyptian within their ranks.

Lierse, who are owned by Egyptian businessman Maged Sami, have Ahmed Samir, Mohamed Abdul Wahed, Sherif Al-Beyali, Youssef Fawaz and Islam Shokri at their disposal.