There is no love lost between SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs, as the Glamour Boys have finally gotten their way in prizing a United defender away from the club.
As previously reported, Chiefs initially targeted SuperSport defender Luke Fleurs as a priority signing and submitted an offer to the club which was rejected
Fleurs' contract was set to expire at the end of the season and therefore he was on course to become available on a pre-contract in January 2023.
Read: SSU To Lose One Striker And Keep Another?
However, after learning of Amakhosi' intentions, Matsatsantsa managed to convince the Cape Town-born defender to extend his contract before the end of last year for a further three-and-half years, which meant any interested party would have to buy him outright.
Chiefs seemingly did not give up in their pursuit of a quality centre-back after they announced the signing of United defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe on a four-year contract, from a pre-contract agreement.
As reported in edition 1308 of Soccer Laduma, Amakhosi had intentions of getting Ditlhokwe, who has six months left on his contract at the Tshwane side, released early at a fee during the current transfer window.
Siya sources within the corridors at SuperSport have indicated that the Botswana captain's representatives attempted to negotiate their client's early release at a cut price fee but it is believed that SuperSport turned it down.
The Siya crew has been led to believe that Matsatsantsa are not happy with how the transfer unfolded behind their backs, with head coach Gavin Hunt not hiding his frustrations by telling the media that the deal "should not have happened" as the 24-year old had a bright future at the club.
It's unclear how much was offered to SuperSport to bid Ditlhokwe farewell prematurely, but unless the club can find a suitable replacement, it's unlikely they will release the Zebras defender, even with an improved offer from Chiefs.
The Glamour Boys, however, could still be pursuing Ditlhokwe's early release as Football Manager Bobby Motaung was tight-lipped when asked to comment on those reports.
"I don't want to say anything on that matter," Motaung said to our sister publication Kickoff when pressed on the issue.
Incidentally, Hunt had already made his stance clear late last year when Fleurs was linked with a move to Amakhosi that they can't afford to lose any of their centre-backs, as they don't have numbers in that department.
"We've only got three centre-backs [Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Fleurs] or maybe four. He is part of the squad going forward, and until I get told otherwise, he is part of this team. The sale will always be determined by price…that's any sell, not just him," Hunt told reporters.
Siya sources feel inclined to believe that SuperSport missed an opportunity and did not act fast in tying down Ditlhokwe to a new contract before the end of 2022, especially since they did not have an option on his initial deal after the 24-year old joined them from Township Rollers three years ago and is now set to join Chiefs on a free transfer!
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