As one Soweto giant actively searches for attacking reinforcements ahead of next season, they may find themselves losing one of their own forwards, with a European club reportedly preparing to test their resolve with a formal offer.
The Portuguese top flight side Vitoria SC's interest isn't new, but insiders suggest they're now ready to back their admiration for Kaizer Chiefs striker, Ashley Du Preez with a concrete proposal after monitoring the player's development throughout the current campaign.
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As the Siya crew previously reported, Portuguese top league side Vitoria SC have been monitoring the Chiefs striker from the start of the season but nothing materialised. Now they are back in the hunt for their target.
Insiders close to the player have indicated that Vitoria are ready to table a good offer for Du Preez who is believed to have impressed their scouts since last season.
"Ashley is like one of Vitoria SC's main targets. The injury disrupted and disturbed things a beat but now they are willing to table the offer to Chiefs. Their scouts are believed to be happy with what they see in him and apparently he can fit into their system," the Siya source revealed.
Meanwhile a second source added that Amakhosi are still looking at the R40 million price tag they put on Du Preez when the interest first came through.
"We are not sure what the offer from Vitoria SC will be or is. But the price that Chiefs are looking at is R40m. You know they are believed to have just extended his contract for two years until June 2027? That means they still value him hence the R40m price tag," the second insider stated.
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The Cape Town born speedy striker joined Amakhosi in 2022 on a three-year deal from Stellenbosch FC and since joining the team the 27-year-old has featured in many league games but hasn't scored as much as he would have liked to.
Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on the issue but there was no response at the time of publishing this story.
This potential transfer creates an intriguing situation for Kaizer Chiefs as they navigate their rebuild under coach Nabi. The timing of Du Preez's recent contract extension suggests Chiefs see him as part of their future plans, but the R40m valuation could provide significant funds to reinvest in their striker search.
For Du Preez himself, the opportunity to test his pace and abilities in European football represents a career milestone that few South African players achieve. Vitoria SC, competing in Portugal's Primeira Liga, would offer the striker a platform to showcase his talents in one of Europe's more technical leagues.
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