While the future of Itumeleng Khune with Kaizer Chiefs has been in doubt, the veteran goalkeeper might not be affected by the club's changes in the coming weeks, informants have revealed.
Khune will see his contract with the Soweto giants expire at the end of next month and there have been doubts over his future after he didn't feature much under coach Arthur Zwane this past season.
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Furthermore, Chiefs in recent seasons have been making several changes to the team after a number of veterans have been released, with Eric Mathoho being the latest to exit from this past season, following in the likes of Bernard Parker and Ramahlwe Mphahlele from the previous season.
However, for his experience and influence at Amakhosi, Khune's situation could be treated as an exception by the club, according to well-placed sources.
News reaching the Siya crew is that a one-year contract extension is being bandied about for the 35-year-old despite having made only 13 appearances in all competitions this past season, including in the last game against Cape Town City.
"Khune is Chiefs' longest-serving player and he is respected for what he achieved with the club in the past. Also, his influence to the younger goalkeepers and other players in the team is commendable," said the source.
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"Yes, he didn't play much but there are no issues between him and the coach. In fact, there is a possibility of him getting a new contract. It's likely to be a short one, possibly a one-year deal, if it all goes according to plan between the parties," concluded the source.
The Siya crew understands that Sekhukhune United are one of the clubs keeping a close eye on the experienced goalkeeper's situation at Chiefs with an interest to sign him should he be available on a free in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Chiefs are believed to have decided to take their time on contract talks with Brandon Petersen, who has been the team's number one this past season, with the 28-year-old's deal set to expire in June next year.
