Mamelodi Sundowns right-back Khuliso Mudau has admitted he would move abroad if an opportunity came along amid links with Lyle Foster's Burnley. Who, though, would he compete with for a spot in the team? Let's take a closer look!
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Linked with Burnley
Soccer Laduma has reported that the 28-year-old Bafana Bafana international is being considered by the Clarets, who gained promotion to the Premier League after Vincent Kompany's debut season in charge following an impressive 2022/23 campaign. Earlier this week, the versatile fullback told SAFA media he is "very happy" at Masandawana amid rumours there is interest in his services from Burnley, but added that he would be open to taking his career overseas if a proposal did reach his camp.
Apart from the matches he has missed through injury, Mudau is considered a first-team starter under Sundowns manager Rulani Mokwena. This term, the former Black Leopards player has played 16 times across all competitions and has netted his first goal for Bafana, a strike that came in South Africa's 2-1 victory over Benin in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 18 November. His impressive performances means his stock is rising and it could be the struggling EPL team that is willing to invest in his signature.
The Clarets' struggles
Kompany, although popular around the Barnfield Training Centre and among supporters at Turf Moor, is currently under severe pressure to get results with the team, having claimed just a single victory since being back in England's top division. That result came against Luton Town, whom they still trail on the table due to having lost more games. Burnley have suffered 10 defeats in their 12 matches and have drawn on only one occasion. The Belgian tactician has experimented with multiple formations in the Premier League, although only three players have been used in the right-back position so far. Connor Roberts, a 28-year-old experienced Wales international, has started seven of them; Vitinho, a younger Brazilian fullback, has been picked at right fullback four times; and Ameen Al-Dakhil, generally a centre-back, once. None of them, though, have been convincing up until this point.
Chopping and changing at right-back
Roberts started the first two league matches at right-back before being shifted to left-back in a game in which 21-year-old Belgium international Al-Dakhil filled in the right fullback position, before being picked again for the next four fixtures. Against Chelsea in October, 24-year-old former Brazil U20 player Vitinho was selected from the start until Roberts replaced him after 61 minutes. The Welshman then started against Brentford but was shown a red card after picking up two yellows, with Kompany again calling upon Vitinho, who has since maintained his place at right-back. No matter who the former Manchester City captain has gone with, however, no real improvement has been made to the structure of the team, which could be the manager's motivation for reportedly seeing Mudau as an option to pursue.
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An advantage the South African might have over his potential future teammates is his ability to play in more advanced positions, while he has also been used as a centre-back in the past by Downs. Kompany, a manager desperately looking for options with a tight budget, might believe Bafana's right-back could offer his team just that. To add to that, the 28-year-old would have a compatriot in Foster to help him settle in at the England-based club, while his arrival could also possibly, in turn, aid the 23-year-old striker amid his off-field battles.
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