Orlando Pirates have been told to wait for a little in their pursuit of one of their targets for next season.
Pirates are chasing the signature of a long-term target from Marumo Gallants.
The Buccaneers are keen on bringing Katlego Otladisa to Gauteng, having swooped on Miguel Timm and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo from the Limpopo side in the last two transfer windows.
They are known admirers of the talented midfielder, whom they have had an eye on for a while.
The Soweto giants attempted to prize him away from Limpopo in the January transfer window, but the deal fell through.
Marumo were not happy to lose both their midfield stars in January after Ndlondlo made a move.
However, Gallants could be forced to sell in the next transfer window, with his contract expiring in June 2024.
Should they hold onto him, Otladisa will be free to sign a pre-contract with Pirates in January 2024.
SN24 can reveal that the Buccaneers have been told to hold on with the player’s focus currently on two fronts.
Otladisa is eager to help Marumo survive the chop as they sit at the basement of the league table with six games to go.
After their 3-1 win over Royal AM on Wednesday night, Gallants are just a point shy of Maritzburg United.
They would want to win their next six games to climb up the DStv Premiership table.
On the other hand, they are in the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup.
They have been drawn against cash-rich Egyptian outfit Pyramids FC for the last eight, whose two legs will be played on 23 April and 30 April 2023.
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Pyramids are home to former Cape Town City forward Fagray Lakay.
Pirates is still interested
“Pirates management is still very interested in signing Otladisa, but they’ve been told to hold on for now so the player can focus. Discussions are set to resume at the end of the season, and it looks likely that he will move,” a source told SN24.
Pirates are currently in second place behind Mamelodi Sundowns and are fighting for a CAF Champions League spot. They need to finish second to play in Africa next season.
Should they qualify, the Buccaneers would be eager to strengthen their squad.