Chiefs stepping up striker search

Stuart Baxter, coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2013/14 football match between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 19th of December 2013

©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix

HUGE details emerge as Kaizer Chiefs intensify striker search!

There have been massive details that have emerged on Kaizer Chiefs’ reported pursuit of a striker signing for next season. 

Chiefs stepping up striker search

Stuart Baxter, coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership 2013/14 football match between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal on the 19th of December 2013

©Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix

There have been massive details that have emerged on Kaizer Chiefs’ reported pursuit of a striker signing for next season. 

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It has been no secret that Chiefs are in the market for a number nine who will bolster their attack, and now details of that search have emerged.

Nine players arrived at Naturena

Fresh from a transfer ban In the close season, Chiefs bolstered their rankings with no less than nine players. None of those players, however, were genuine number nines in the mould of Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro. But that was, perhaps because in the above mentioned as well as Lazarous Kambole and Khama Billiat, the Amakhosi management would have probably felt that they had enough for this season. 

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Injuries to the likes of Nurkovic and Castro, however, may have shown Chiefs just how short they can be in that department. This was illustrated through one of assistant coach Arthur Zwane’s post-match interviews, where he admitted that should the team dip into the now passed January transfer window, they would maybe look for a striker. 

Letsoalo approached in January

It was then, perhaps no coincidence that Chiefs were consistently linked with Royal AM striker Victor Letsoalo during the January transfer window, with the Durban side’s officials even going as far confirming that talks were held between the two parties, even slamming the the supposed offer or proposal that Chiefs had put across for the Bafana Bafana international’s services. 

Chiefs now scouring the globe for a new marquee signing

Now if the latest reports are anything to go by, it looks as if missing out on the January transfer of Letsoalo has allowed them to cast their net much wider going into the close season. According to KickOff.com Chiefs are scouring different parts of the globe, to try and find their man, and are so serious about their pursuitthat they have allocated a big budget specifically for that player. 

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“At least three agencies have been contacted while they have also taken input from the head of their technical team Stuart Baxter. This website has seen some of the names of foreign strikers submitted from the continent and Eastern Europe but with Chiefs spending a transfer they want the best option.hey have asked for a striker who is on double figures on the scoring charts in consecutive seasons. Of concern to Chiefs is that Samir Nurkovic is the only striker who has been in double figures for them in the league through the last eight years.” Wrote the publication. 

Three strikers could leave the club

Nurkovic being successful in his first season at the club might be the reason why Chiefs would not hesitate to go back to his side of the world to get someone who may be his possible successor. Although the Serbian striker does have an option to renew his deal for an additional year, he has reportedly been placed on the transfer list since the beginning of the season. His steady decline since returning from injury could also help Chiefs make their mind up quicker about his future.

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Castro has been another who has been injury prone and hardly had a season. He is not getting any younger and on his reportedly salary, Chiefs would more likely be looking to cut their losses. Kambole is quite simply not in the plans of coach Stuart Baxter and is almost certain to be shown the door in the close season. Exciting times ahead for the Amakhosi faithful?