Mamelodi Sundowns are set to make one more signing while Thabiso Kutumela could leave the club before the end of the transfer window.
Sundowns have brought in five players for the new season; Junior Mendieta, Lesiba Nku, Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Thapelo Maseko and Bathusi Aubaas.
However, head coach Rulani Mokwena has suggested that one more player will be roped in after unforeseen injuries during pre-season which has changed their original plan of only five incomings.
“I said at the end of last season we will make five changes to the squad, I said five incoming and a couple will leave,” Mokwena said when asked by iDiski Times if their transfer business is over for the current window.
“We’ve got our five… [but] I would say we’re not done yet. I do expect one more, but it’s only because of what has happened during pre-season now with regard to one or two injuries that have left us a little thin in one position.
“So we’re working on trying to strengthen that position and I would say to you after that – it’s done.”
With Kutumela falling out of favour after featuring during the first part of last season, he’s been linked with moves to Cape Town Spurs, AmaZulu and Cape Town City.
Eric Tinkler, who’s a huge admirer of the South Africa international worked with the player during their time at Maritzburg, while Usuthu are desperate to rope in a new forward after the recent injury of Sede Dion.
“This is a very difficult time in the season because I have to protect my integrity and the integrity of the club because when I speak, I speak on behalf of the club,” Mokwena said when asked about Kutumela’s future.
“I can’t mislead or misinform, not just you guys because you have a responsibility to inform the public and our supporters, who want to know. But I also have to manage the situation because transfers are very delicate.
“It’s delicate in the sense that it has to be the player, it has to be the club and the interested party… so with Kutumela’s there’s interest but we have to wait because it has to make sense for the tripartite.
“It has to make sense for the player, he has to be happy, the mother club, has to be happy and of course, it has to make sense for the interested party, so you have to be patient with regard to transfers of any players that are still here.”
Sundowns will face Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday after opening up their 2023/24 campaign with a 2-1 win over Sekhkhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium last Friday.
