The Cairo club have already opened talks with the Ivory Coast international when he was in Egypt with ASEC to play Ahli in the first leg of the African Champions League earlier this month, the source added.

ASEC announced they are ready to sell the contract of their key players after crashing out of the tournament, opening the door for European clubs and top African sides for bidding.

Their French coach Patrick Liewig was quoted by BBC sport as saying after losing to Ahli that some players can go to other clubs if the club received good offers.

The source, who didn't want to be named, said that Ya Konan is expecting an offer from a Serie A side to move to Italy in January.

But Ya Konan said he would be happy to sign a one-year contract with Zamalek should the Italian move stall, according to the same source.

Ya Konan has been instrumental in ASEC's campaign towards the Champions League semis with his eight goals.

He scored both his side's goals against Ahli in the return leg in Abidjan on Sunday but the Egyptian champions managed to squeeze through on a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Ya Konan is reportedly targeted by Ahli who will have to waive one of their three foreigners to make way for the 22-year-old.