The Siya crew reported last week that Paris FC would hold crunch talks with Rizespor to decide a way forward on Lebogang Phiri's future.
Indications are that the Bafana Bafana midfielder could be forced to return to Turkey – his buyout clause appears too steep for the French outfit.
Phiri joined the Ligue 2 side at the start of the season with hopes that he could help them gain promotion, which would subsequently improve their budget to get the transfer over the line permanently and also beef up the squad.
But Paris FC are currently in 10th place with five games to go and in no position to move up to the topflight later this year. Siya sources have suggested then the situation makes it tricky for the loan to become permanent with Rizespor expecting a transfer fee.
The midfielder signed a three-year deal with the Turkish side in July 2021 after leaving Guingamp as a free agent when they, too, failed to get promoted to Ligue 1.
It's understood unless the two parties can come to a compromise before the transfer window closes in September, then Phiri will return to Rizespor and see out the remainder of his contract in the Turkish second tier.
The 28-year-old has no plans to come back to South Africa having left the country a decade ago when Danish outfit Brøndby signed him from the Bidvest Wits academy team while he was still a teenager.
Should Phiri return to Turkey? Let us know in the comments below!
