Could there still be a twist in Chiefs’ pursuit of Fleurs?

For quite some time, Chiefs have been linked with real interest in bringing SuperSport United defender Luke Fleurs to the club next year.

Rumours had even recently indicated that there was a strong possibility the two clubs could reach an agreement in the near future, with Fleurs currently in the final months of his initial agreement with SuperSport.

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However, in an exclusive with SABC Sport, SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews instead suggested that the club has retained the services of the young player.

Fleurs’ agent Glyn Binkin also seemed to explain why the defender opted to agree to a new deal at SuperSport, effectively turning down Chiefs at the same time.

“At the time Chiefs told me they were not interested, and the player needed to secure his future, which he has now done,” Binkin said.

Yet, the matter may not necessarily be cut and dry, considering that there does seem to be some real buying power that Chiefs are flexing.

“Players don’t want to leave SuperSport,” Matthews told iDiski Times. “The ones that want to leave the club are ones like Luke Fleurs, or Tebza or Mbule. They wanted to leave because somebody else came to offer them three times the money that they are earning at SuperSport and of course, they want to earn more money for themselves and their families – that’s what they got into sport for.”

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Fleurs could even exercise a contract clause to join Chiefs

Recently, Matthews explained there were clauses enforced in the new long-term contract offer to Fleurs.

“I can tell you that Luke has recommitted his future to SuperSport by agreeing to a three-and-a-half-year deal. It’s good news, and we have told the player we will not stand in his way if a good opportunity comes along,” Matthews explained last month. 

“The club has inserted a local and international buy-out clause should there be an offer we believe makes sense for the club and for Luke.” 

In the latest reports from Soccer Laduma, it had been stated that the 22-year-old remained a priority target for Chiefs, and that veteran midfielder Cole Alexander could possibly even be offered in exchange for Fleurs.

Yet Matthews had made it clear that SuperSport didn’t want to short-change themselves when they still have 18 important league games to play when the season resumes.

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Regardless of the ongoing saga around Fleurs, there have been clear indications that Chiefs could look to make a couple more squad additions in the next transfer window, with Amakhosi still far from the finished product.

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