Downs plan to dig deep to get the hitman
Brazilians step up Brockie interest with second offer on table The Blues vow their ‘wrecking ball’ will not be sold off cheap
MAMELODI Sundowns have not given up their pursuit of Jeremy Brockie and they are preparing another bid for the star striker’s signature.
Supersport United rejected Sundowns’ initial offer for the New Zealander hitman’s services but Brazilians coach Pitso Mosimane has seemingly raised the stakes.
Mosimane is confident that a deal could be concluded before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.
United have said that Brockie is not for sale but an insider told the Daily Dispatch that Sundowns are prepared to offer their Tshwane rivals around R10-million plus either Cuthbert Malajila or Mogakolodi Ngele.
Malajila and Ngele spent last season on loan with PSL champions Bidvest Wits.
“We would like to get one striker upfront and prepare ourselves in case Khama Billiat leaves‚” said Mosimane in reference to Brockie‚ even though he did not mention him by name.
“So‚ I would like to have another striker and you know the striker that I want.
“Hopefully‚ I can get him but it’s very‚ very‚ very difficult.
“When I have the opportunities that we created against Mariztburg there is only one man who can solve this problem.
“He is a sniper‚ one chance‚ done.”
Mosimane said they won’t stand in the way of Billiat who has stalled to renew his contract amid reported offers from clubs in the US and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“Khama is in his last year and we are trying to renew the contract.
“If he is not going to renew we will continue.
“It is the same with former assistant coach Rhulani Mokoena‚ who has left us to join one goal‚ DIEGO Costa has again been ordered to return to Chelsea with the club adamant that Atletico Madrid will not land the Awol striker for a knock-down fee.
Costa revealed that he has been fined by Chelsea for failing to return to training after being given an extra week off at the start of pre-season, following Antonio Conte’s text message confirming he had no future at Stamford Bridge.
In an unsanctioned interview, Costa claimed he was prepared to spend an entire year in Brazil without being paid by Chelsea unless the club let him return to Atletico.
But Chelsea have reiterated to the 28-year-old that they expect him to return to England and fulfil the terms of his contract by training and doing everything he can to make himself fit and available.
Negotiations have taken place between Chelsea and Atletico over Costa’s desired return to Spain, but the Premier League champions insist his contract must be adhered to until a transfer is agreed.
Chelsea reject claims that Costa was told he would have to train with the reserves if he returns to the club, although it remains highly improbable that he would play for head coach Conte again.
Conte this summer revealed that he first decided in January that Costa could leave at the end of last season, following a training ground row over interest from China.
That was followed by a text message sent in June, which reiterated that Costa was not part of Conte’s plans for this season. Costa’s lawyer, Ricardo Cardoso, has threatened legal action over Chelsea’s handling of the player and threatened to use “all possible legal mechanisms” to force his return to Atletico. The Madrid club have seen a bid of about £26-million Orlando Pirates.
“We are continuing because we are a very strong team.
“We are two games away from the Caf Champions League final and Khama has never played in the Champions League this year‚ so what’s the problem.
“We are in the semifinals of the Champions League and he has never played in the Champions League.
“Khama doesn’t finish all the games‚ he misses eight to 10 games every year with injuries and we are prepared.
“We lost Katlego Mphela and we continued‚ Elias Pelembe‚ Lebohang Mokoena‚ Ramahlwe Mphahlele and we won cups and the Champions League.”
Mosimane said while negotiations with Billiat and his representatives continue‚ he expects him to give 100% at training and during matches.
“He is still under contract with us and he is getting paid.
“Bongani Zungu was on his last year and we played him until the end.
“I played Keegan Dolly until the last and those boys even today we talk and there is full respect. “You have to be professional and play. “If the fans boo him‚ what he [Khama] must do is to put the ball in the net and I am sure they will celebrate.
“If he renews we love him because he is a good player but if he doesn’t want to renew what else can we do?
“We are going to lose players and those are big names I am talking about‚ but we just keep on going.
“The important thing is to make sure that in between those phases we replace them.
“That’s the reason we have brought in Oupa Manyisa and George Lebese‚” he said. — DDC (R448.45-million) for Costa rejected by Chelsea, who are determined not to allow last season’s top scorer to leave for a bargain price.
The Blues believe that, with two years remaining on his contract, Costa is worth about £40-million (R689.9million), but it is not just the size of the fee that has been a sticking point.
Under their transfer embargo, Atletico cannot register new players until January and the Spanish club would prefer not to pay Costa’s full £150 000 (R2.58million) -a-week wages while he cannot play.
But Chelsea are not interested in a deal that would see them subsidise any part of Costa’s salary until the New Year and want him off the wage bill if he leaves.
Conte has started the season short of players, with Michy Batshuayi having to start the defeat to Burnley as Chelsea’s lone striker, while summer signing Alvaro Morata works towards full fitness.
Morata came off the bench to score against Burnley, but that has not altered Chelsea’s stance that they want Costa back at the club while his future is thrashed out.
Chelsea’s squad weaknesses were badly exposed in the defeat to Burnley and Conte faces more selection problems, with Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas suspended for Sunday’s game against Tottenham.
Pedro is optimistic of returning from injury to face Spurs, but Eden Hazard and Tiemoue Bakayoko are still expected to be out.
Conte has been promised that Chelsea will sign at least three more players before the transfer window shuts at the end of this month, with midfield currently the most pressing area that needs strengthening.
Players of interest include Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater, Arsenal forward Alex OxladeChamberlain and Southampton’s unsettled defender Virgil van Dijk. — The Daily Telegraph