With each passing day, Kaizer Chiefs look unlikely to sign Mamelodi Sundowns’ midfielder Andile Jali on a free transfer in June.
Kaizer Chiefs have been linked with Jali, seemingly on his way out of Chloorkop.
Amakhosi lost the services of Njabulo Blom in December and are yet to fill that position.
Blom joined MLS side St Louis City and started life in the United States in February. He has already been featured twice for his new club.
Meanwhile, Chiefs have tried Samkelo Zwane in that central defensive midfield position and then Siyethemba Sithebe as they look to plug the hole left by Blom.
However, the two midfielders have yet to reach the level of the Bafana Bafana star Blom.
The defensive midfield position is a priority ahead of the new season, and Andile Jali has emerged as a potential option.
However, indications are that they have turned their eyes elsewhere with
Venezuela international Edson Castillo on their radar.
“They’re in talks with Castillo, who plays in Venezuela, his home country,” a source said.
This is not the first time the 28-year-old midfielder has been linked with Amakhosi. After exiting Caracas in January, he was heavily linked with Chiefs.
He signed for another Venezuela side Monagas SC on a short-term deal. He has featured over 200 times in professional ranks in his home country, Mexico and Azerbaijan.
Castillo has been capped six times for his country’s senior international and featured at the 2021 Copa America. In that tournament, he scored and assisted in a 2-2 draw with Ecuador in the group stages.
Another option Chiefs are looking at is Stellenbosch FC midfield grafter Sibongiseni ‘Ox’ Mthethwa.
The reluctance to sign Jali could be because of discipline issues after it emerged that he arrived at training drunk.
Jali is out of contract in June, and Sundowns are said to have stalled the negotiations after the issues that arose in recent weeks.
The former Orlando Pirates midfielder has yet to train with the club since the end of February.