With Mamelodi Sundowns reportedly planning to trim their squad next season, one team appears poised to capitalise on this change by aiming to sign one of the Brazilians' on-loan players permanently.
As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, Thembinkosi Lorch has joined Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca on loan until the season's end. Insiders close to both Sundowns and the player have indicated that the Moroccan giants are believed to be keen on making Lorch's stay permanent after the loan deal concludes.
READ: Controversial Soweto Derby Penalty - Expert Weighs In
"After all that then Lorch would be going to the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA as Wydad are interested in keeping him after his loan deal in June. The thing is, they wanted to sign him permanently this January but the talks were taking a bit longer than expected and they didn't want to lose him and that's why they first settled for the five months loan and will then be working on keeping him permanently during this loan period," said the Siya source.
"You should remember that coach Rulani Mokwena is the one who brought him to Sundowns and now they are reunited at Wydad. So, the club believes that the coach knows him and the next five months will be crucial in his future at the club. But the club is interested in keeping him further than just the loan deal," the source added.
READ: Cardoso's Anxious Wait: 'You Do Get A Bit Stressed'
A second insider noted that since Sundowns are focused on reducing their squad, theoretically speaking, this potential transfer aligns with their goals.
"This sits well with Sundowns. They would not have wanted it to come from them. But now that Wydad are interested to keep him then it will be part of the process of cutting down the squad. But it will all depend on the offer from the Moroccan side as there could be other suitors as well. The chances of him leaving Sundowns at the end of the season is high although his contract ends in June 2027," the second source stated.
Since joining Sundowns in January last year, the 31-year-old didn't feature in as many games as he would have liked.
