I've noticed for a while Al Ain are bit by bit making very astute acquisitions. Anyone else noticed? Maybe looking towards an ACL trophy.

What's the rumour here?

Seems more like a murmur more than anything. 

+1. Straight to the Murmur Mill

Won't matter, they'll get dicked by whoever makes it through the much harder Eastern conference. 

Don't disagree with the water bottle fillers above, more of an observation than rumour. Trouble is if I post it in Asian thread it goes unnoticed. The east is always tough but this squad being put together is different. Was really just interested to hear from any observers as I suspect not many people here know much beyond EPL top 5 tbh.

I'd really love to hear more about your analysis of this squad, AEK.

I know they had Al Shamrani on loan last season but looking at their squad now there aren't too many names that jump out at me.

Marcus Berg, Caio, Asprilla and Shiotani seem to be a good group of foreigners to go with Abdulrahman brothers and other UAE nation team players. Looks like it has the makings of reasonably strong team. Not sure how they would go against the stronger teams in East Asia though, pobably lack overall quality across the whole team. 

Watching a few highlights of West Asian football, the defending is absolutely comical at times. The East Asian teams who make it will thrash them.