Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau has unsurprisingly emerged as one of the sought-after players following his remarkable progress in recent months. With January around the corner, he could be one of the names to headline the next transfer window with interest pouring in for his services from locally and overseas. Premier League club Burnley remains interested in the Bafana Bafana right back, as first reported by Soccer Laduma a fortnight ago, while sources have hinted on other potential suitors for the former Black Leopards star, though a decision will depend on the Brazilians' plans for beyond this season. With the player believed to be not far from the end of his contract, more clubs could enter the race for his signature, and it should be interesting to see what decision Downs will make in the coming weeks regarding Mudau's future, as the Siya crew investigates.
What The Siya Crew Has Been Told…
Following his remarkable progress in the last two seasons where he has been playing regularly and achieving success with Mamelodi Sundowns, the possibility of leaving for greener pastures seems an appealing prospect to Khuliso Mudau, according to sources. With interest being shown from Burnley, the 28-year-old is said to be willing to go and further his career among some of the top players the world of football has to offer, a move that would also mean securing his future with the financial rewards it would bring.
"'Sailor' (Mudau) is being monitored by (Vincent) Kompany for Burnley, and that's huge. He is one of the players that have caught his attention after the disappointing start in the Premier League for his team. The player is aware of the interest, and it is appealing to him, even though he is happy at Sundowns and has been doing well in the PSL and in African competitions," noted a source.
"This is a focused player who would like to do well for himself to secure his future. For him, it has always been about football since an early age and playing as an amateur. He always believed that he would make a living out of the game and therefore he wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to go and make more money in Europe," the source added.
According to another source, Mudau is understood to be earning between R200 000 and R400 000 at the inaugural African Football League champions and isn't desperate, although he could be tempted by the possibility of doubling that in the Premier League. Having recently sold Cassius Mailula to Major League Soccer club Toronto in a multimillion-rand deal, it is expected that the Tshwane giants would be open to allowing the player to move.
"Sundowns won't have too much of a problem in allowing the player to move, the way I understand it. They are a club that is always having a plan and they are not strangers to signing quality players, and I don't think there would be a problem in replacing Sailor if he was to leave. But they will want to make a lot of money out of it and a club that's interested in the player will have to be prepared to pay," the second source explained.
"The boy is under contract, and he is getting paid good money, and that's between R200 000 and R400 000 per month – I won't disclose the exact figure. In South Africa, that's a lot of money, but if you were to compare that with what he would be getting in England, that's a small portion. He is not even the highest-paid player at Sundowns. How much do you think Themba (Zwane) is getting? That's just an example that I'm trying to give you to make you understand why a European move would benefit Sailor financially at his age. Themba isn't the only one that is earning more than him and that's the nature of football, these things happen," the source went on. The likelihood of Downs improving the 28-year-old's deal isn't being ruled out, though a priority for the player would be to move to Europe.
"Sundowns are the player's employers, and they would have to decide. If they say they want him to stay, they will have to offer him an improved contract. A player of Khuliso's quality, who's been able to market himself the way he's done, deserves to get paid anything upwards of R500 000. R500 000 to R800 000, around there," concluded the informant.
What Are The Facts?
In 2020, when the Chloorkop-based side signed the fullback from Black Leopards, they confirmed agreeing to a five-year contract with him. Three years later, the Musina-born star is left with two years on the deal, according to information on the Siya crew's desk. There has been no official word from the Brazilians about any change in the Bafana Bafana international's contract, although reports have it that a new deal has been bandied about.
Mudau has retained his position as first-choice right back in coach Rhulani Mokwena's line-ups and played all the games as Downs won the inaugural African Football League two weekends ago. As questions were being asked on why national team coach Hugo Broos excluded Mudau in his earlier selections, Mokwena was bold in his support for the player to be considered for Bafana selection. "Losing Sailor was massive. He defends well, he's got speed, power and attacks well.
I heard Mark Gleeson in commentary (for SuperSport) in the last match against Orlando Pirates saying it boggles his mind that Sailor is not in the national team and I fully agree with him," the Downs coach said, in part, back in September,. When Broos finally called the lanky player up, he did not disappoint. He was the scorer of the second goal against Benin as Bafana moved to the top of Group C with a 2-1 victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Moses Mabhida Stadium last Saturday, although the ensuing encounter against Rwanda on Tuesday was a day to forget, with Broos' men going down 2-0 and Mudau having a role to play in how the second goal was conceded. Speaking to SAFA Media this week, Mudau confirmed interest in a European move.
"Obviously, there are rumours here and there, but I'm focused on my team that is Mamelodi Sundowns and I'm very happy, to be honest. But if an opportunity like this can come, I'd take it," he said, in part.
The Story behind the scenes
Burnley Willing To Offer R30 million?
The Clarets are willing to pay big for the ex-JDR Stars man, according to information gathered by this publication. With the EPL outfit already having Mudau's Bafana teammate on their books, in Lyle Foster, who was progressing well and scoring goals before the announcement two weeks ago that he was receiving specialist care regarding mental health issues, the club has identified a need for another South African to be added to the squad.
"Burnley are willing to pay around R30 million for the player from what I know. But it seems that such an amount is not as appealing to Sundowns as they value the boy more than that. He just won the club the African Football League and his value has gone up. Rhulani likes the player, and he has plans for him for the CAF Champions League. This is a coach who has worked very hard on the player to improve his game to be the complete athlete that he is now. Also, they enjoy a good working relationship," the source revealed.
Why Pirates Can't Be Ruled Out…
In 2020, as Mudau was linked with a Gauteng move, Orlando Pirates appeared to be the frontrunners in the race for his signature at some stage. "Let's be honest, there is no footballer who doesn't want to play for one of the big teams, and there is no footballer who doesn't want to play in the national team.
Every player out there wants to be able to say at some point that, 'I have done it!' All that you can do as a player is to continue working hard as you may never know who is watching," Mudau told the Siya crew at the time. SuperSport United were the other side that was keen at the time, although in the end, it was Downs who won the race for his services and those of Lesedi Kapinga.
Indications are that the Buccaneers would still be keen on the 28-year-old to add to their already formidable squad. Having concluded some big deals in recent times, including that of Kermit Erasmus who was signed from Sundowns as well as Kapinga who joined on a free, the Soweto giants cannot be ruled out in a possible move for Mudau if an opportunity arises at the end of the season, according to a close source.
An Option For Chiefs' Troublesome Position
Meanwhile, Amakhosi are expected to make squad changes again at the end of the season, with right back one of the areas of concern for the team with Dillan Solomons appearing to be out of favour. The former Swallows FC (now Moroka Swallows) defender has played only 18 minutes of football in the league this season.
Moreover, in the last match before the break, the Soweto Derby against old foe Pirates, interim coach Cavin Johnson made a surprise selection when he started Zitha Kwinika at right back ahead of Reeve Frosler, who has been a regular. A player of Mudau's quality will be a welcome addition at Naturena and his situation will be monitored, according to the source, especially when it comes to his contract.
Secret Agent
The Siya crew spoke to a top agent in SA to get their expert understanding on what's going on. For obvious reasons, the agent will remain anonymous.
"Opportunities like this do not come too often for our players and that's why it would be important for Khuliso to go and as in now, if it was up to me. It is not every day that a player is linked with a club like Burnley and if I was his agent, I would push for a move even without taking into consideration other factors like money and so on. It would be good for the player's progress and for his Bafana Bafana career if he was to go and play in England. One would wish for all the parties to reach an agreement on this one for the benefit of everyone."
Watch This Space
Both Sundowns and Mudau will have a big decision to make in the coming weeks regarding the player's future and a result beneficial to both parties would be the most logical conclusion. It will all go down to the rands and cents as the next deal will probably be the last big one for the player, so securing his future and seeing to it that he is set for life will be uppermost in the minds of his representatives.
The Tshwane giants, meanwhile, will not want to lose their prized asset cheaply, and you can expect them to ask for what they deem is a fair value for the player. If Burnley indeed value the player, it seems they will have to up their asking price. Are they willing to do that, or will they simply look the other way? A long-term contract extension at Downs for a player who has given his all for the Brazilians over the years also cannot be ruled out. Watch this space.
