Orlando Pirates news: Fortune Makaringe closes in on Bucs move – report

Maritzburg United start midfielder, Fortune Makaringe could be his way to Orlando Pirates, according to Soccer Laduma.

The 25-year-old has been one of the shining beacons in the struggling Team of Choice who are facing relegation after a dream campaign last season.

According to the publication, the move is tied to the previous business entered into by the two teams, which saw attacking midfielder, Thabiso Kutumela move to Pietermaritzburg in the January transfer window.

The paper reports that the Soweto giants are expected to pay R4 million and include a player in exchange for Makaringe, who will complete his move at the end of this season.

Kutumela signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Maritzburg and is said to be valued at R3 million, meaning the potential deal could be worth R7 million.

Fortune Makaringe move to continue Maritzburg United player drain

Should the move materialise, Makaringe will join former mentor, Fadlu Davids, who joined the Orlando Pirates’ technical staff shortly after being sacked from his position as head coach at the Team of Choice.

The ex-Bafana striker led his charges to a fifth-place finish in the league last season, their highest in history, and they also fell on the final hurdle in the Nedbank Cup, losing in the final to Free State Stars.

Their exploits drew attention from the country’s big spenders, who swooped in for some of their best players, with striker Evans Rusike the first to depart, as he left for Supersport United in January last year.

Other key players poached from the club include Bafana midfielder, Lebogang Maboe, who joined PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have also been linked with rising star, Siphesihle Ndlovu.

Maritzburg United are currently at the bottom of the table, having recorded just two wins in 20 matches this season, scoring just nine goals.