Orlando Pirates set to loan player out at the end of the season?

Orlando Pirates could be willing to part ways with one of their midfielders at the end of the current season.

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Pirates will continue to bolster their squad at the end of the season, while also releasing some deadwood. 

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One of the positions they could look to revamp could be midfield, where they’re already stacked. Pirates boast the likes of Thabang Monare, Miguel Timm and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo there. Furthermore, they have Makhahleni Makhaula , and Fortune Makaringe who have hardly had a look in this season. The overflowing midfield options, however, did not prevent them from dipping into the market to sign another player. They clinched the loan signing of former SuperSport United star Talent Mbatha. 

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That is bound to add further pressure and doubt in the minds of midfielders who were already down the pecking order. One of those players is thought to be Siphelo Baloni. Baloni joined Pirates on a free transfer at the start of the current season from All Stars. Since signing from the now defunct former second tier side, he has found it hard to break into the side. Soccer-Laduma now suggest that, the Buccaneers are ready to loan him out. 

Baloni loan move away from Pirates as good as done?

“The club is already planning for next season. They want to be ready with the players they need when they start the season and that’s why they are set to loan out Baloni next season. They want him to gain experience as they gave him the chance to play some games but they feel he needs more game time before he can play regularly at Pirates. So, for now the loan move for next season is imminent and it’s as good as done,” said on source to the publication. 

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Another source added that Pirates believe a loan would help keep Baloni happy as well. 

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“The biggest department at the club is the midfield and they want to manage it and that’s why they want to loan others out and now they are working at loaning out Siphelo (Baloni). They signed a number of midDelders at the beginning of the season and they have added another one in Thalente (Mbatha) from SuperSport United and that’s making competition even tougher for others. So loan deals are the way out for some of the players including Siphelo,” said the source. 

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It remains to be seen where Baloni could end up, should he really leave Pirates next season.