How Orlando Pirates navigate the upcoming transfer window will be fascinating.
The Buccaneers are leading the league in points, winning seven games in seven for the first time in their history, and can extend it to eight when they face Stellenbosch FC tomorrow.
Linked with an array of stars, from Asenele Velebayi to Oswin Appollis, they are also at risk of losing some of their most experienced players, namely Patrick Maswanganyi and Monnapule Saleng.
Who’s in, who’s out?
The Orlando Pirates, who have come out of the blue, are favourites to sign Bafana wingers and Kaizer Chiefs top targets Velebayi and Appollis but could soon be without club favourites Maswanganyi and Saleng.
Maswanganyi, otherwise known as “Tito”, is rumoured to be pushing for a move to Europe after his Stars of Africa Academy mentor, Farouk Khan, said, “I can tell you now Tito is ready for Europe.”
Before adding that “even himself as a player, he really wants to play there. You know if Pirates can allow him to go then it won’t benefit only Pirates from the sale but also the player himself and the country. He could have stayed longer in Portugal but he was impatient that time,
“You know many players from Brazil, Argentina, and most other African countries use Portugal as a springboard to bigger leagues in Europe and he could have been patient then things could have worked out for him that time. But nothing is lost. He can still go now and make it big. He is ready for Europe.”
Regarding Saleng, he’s attracted interested from Belgium side Standard Liege and, like Tito, could make a big money move once the season concludes.
Who will Orlando Pirates sign?
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