As preparations for the new season gather pace, Kaizer Chiefs appear to be revisiting a transfer target that reportedly slipped through their grasp during the January window, but they could be frustrated once again.
As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, Amakhosi were believed to be interested in Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Terrence Mashego. Now, Siya sources have indicated that they have reignited that interest in him.
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"What I can tell you is that the club with all involved departments still believe they need Terrence (Mashego) at the club. They could not get him in January because it was a short transfer window period but apparently they believe that since now they have enough time to renegotiate and persuade their counterparts and the player's representatives, they can make things happen this time around. They are really reigniting their interest in him," the source told Soccer Laduma.
Meanwhile, a football insider operating between the two clubs further indicated that with Mashego initially left out of the Mamelodi Sundowns FIFA Club World Cup squad, Chiefs believed that could work to their advantage and sign him.
"You would recall that in January the proposed transfer fee was believed to be less than R10 million and now that his contract has one year remaining and he is left out of the Club World Cup then it gives Chiefs hope that they could stand a chance to get him. Apparently most of the players Sundowns left behind are not in the coach's plans from next season and that would mean Chiefs can sign their target Terrence Mashego," the second source believed.
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However, things developed quickly with the Brazilians, as Mashego was later included in their Club World Cup squad. The Siya crew was then the first to report that Sundowns have exercised the one-year option on Mashego's current contract, which could change the circumstances for Amakhosi. Now they have to pay a fee if they are to sign Mashego from Sundowns.
The 28-year-old former Bafana Bafana defender joined Sundowns from Cape Town City and last season he didn't really command the left-back position with young Asekho Tiwani, as well as Aubrey Modiba, and Divine Lunga being the most preferred options in that position, resulting in Mashego only playing a few games.
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for official comment but there was no response at the time of publishing.
