Orlando Pirates are believed to be close to reaching an agreement for a new contract with winger Monnapule Saleng, according to insiders privy to information.
Sources close to both Pirates and the player have indicated that a pivotal meeting is understood to have taken place between Saleng and Bucs' hierarchy over the weekend, where all parties successfully discussed the outstanding challenges that had created uncertainty around his future.
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The insiders stated that the Buccaneers have offered Saleng a fresh three-year contract that will keep him at the club until June 30th, 2028. It is not certain if the player will join the Bucs squad for their pre-season training camp in Spain, but it is possible.
"There was a meeting between all the involved parties over the weekend where it's believed that whatever misunderstandings which were there were apparently squashed and a new agreement was agreed. No. Apparently it's not exercising an option. It's believed to be an open, new three-year contract. We can't talk much into detail now, rather say its a three-year deal," the insider told Soccer Laduma.
A second source stated how the club is still finalising whether the former Player of the Season will travel with the team to Spain for their pre-season preparations.
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"What we know and what we believe is that the club will be making the final decision on whether he should travel to Spain with the team. Apparently he has been training with the team since they came back from the break and all is believed to be going well for him as an Orlando Pirates player but what remains is to decide on whether he goes to Spain or continues with the special training programme which the club has designed for him to catch up with his fitness. But he is still at the club with a new deal," the second insider told the Siya crew.
Saleng had limited playing time last season. His standout campaign came in the 2022/23 season when he had an excellent goal to appearance ratio, scoring in approximately every two games.
Soccer Laduma contacted Pirates for comment on the matter but received no response at the time of publishing.
Notably, with Saleng potentially signing a contract extension, Pirates will also be able to sell or loan him to interested clubs. If Saleng impresses on loan and rebuilds his match fitness, this will give him an opportunity to return to play for Bucs in future. It has not been officially confirmed yet as to where Saleng will be playing next season.
