Amakhosi could get the Bafana Bafana star on a cheap if all goes well
Kaizer Chiefs could land one of their key targets in Bafana Bafana forward Percy Tau who is in talks with Egyptian giants Al Ahly to leave the club.
Tau has been on Chiefs’ radar for some time but both parties are yet to agree on a deal as the player has been held in negotiations with Al Ahly for weeks over his exit.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker is holding up for a full pay on the one-year deal still left on his contract with Al Ahly, believed to be $1.2 million (R21.5 million), but the Cairo Red Devils want to pay him a reduced sum, which has led to a standoff.
“Al Ahly’s management offered Percy Tau to leave in exchange for granting him 25% of the value of his contract for the next season,” a source told Egypt’s Erem News, as reported by KickOff.
Al Ahly trying to force Percy Tau out
“Al Ahly did this based on the desire of Marcell Koller, the team’s technical director, who requested the player’s departure, especially since he had only one season left on his contract.
“Percy Tau asked for time to think and study the matter with his agent. The most likely outcome, if the player sticks to his position, is to terminate the contract by mutual consent between the two parties.”
An exit for Tau will be a boost to Chiefs who will have an opportunity to sign one of South Africa’s top players for free given the Soweto giants’ limited budget.
There have been reports that Chiefs made an offer to Al Ahly for Tau, which was deemed ‘too low’ by the Egyptian club, but a contract termination would make him a free agent, handing Amakhosi a massive boost.
Will Chiefs convince ex-Sundowns attacker to sign?
It will also depend on whether Tau wants to return to South Africa after his successful three-and-a-half year stay in North Africa as clubs in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also interested.
The former Sundowns forward joined Al Ahly in January 2021 after being convinced by ex-coach Pitso Mosimane and has made 106 appearances for the club while scoring 25 goals.
His stint in Egypt has yielded two league titles, three CAF Champions League crowns as well as two third-place finishes at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Chiefs are looking to reinforce their attack after beefing up the defence with the signings of Miguel Inacio, Rushwin Dortley and Bongani Sam as well as goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari and ex-Sundowns attacker Gaston Sirino.
