Lebese to hand in Sundowns transfer request?

What the Siya crew has been told…

George Lebese’s days at Mamelodi Sundowns could well be numbered, with the attacker growing more disillusioned with life at Chloorkop with every passing day. The Brazilians paid Kaizer Chiefs a reported fee of around R3.5 million for Lebese last year – however, he has struggled to stake a claim for a first team spot under coach Pitso Mosimane, and it now appears that he could be on his way out in the not-so-distant future.

The Siya crew revealed during the last July/ August transfer window that Lebese, who will turn 30 in a few months’ time, was keen on a loan move away from the club as he sought to get his career back on track; however, nothing materialised at the time and he remained with Sundowns, targeting a return to action. Siya sources have revealed that the attacker requested meetings with club management on several occasions as he sought to discuss this future, though those requests were not granted and the meetings consequently never took place at the time. The crew has been told that, since then, the involved parties have met as Lebese’s future remains up in the air.

Now, with the former Amakhosi star seemingly far down Mosimane’s pecking order, he is likely to look for an exit from the club in January – whether on loan or on a permanent basis – though a move could potentially be scuppered by his high Sundowns wages and the fact that he may not be too keen on a pay cut when moving elsewhere. It is thought that, while Lebese is involved in first team training at Chloorkop, he is not really involved in the 11 v 11 sessions that Mosimane uses when looking to select his starting XI for match day, suggesting that it could be some time – if at all – before he is able to force his way into the reckoning at Sundowns.

As a Mamelodi local, Lebese was signed - in part - because of his affiliation with the club growing up, and for that reason, it is thought that management is reticent to let him leave, though they may be left with no choice if the player is forceful in trying to resurrect his career with a move to another Absa Premiership club.

Meanwhile, it could also be noted that Lebese hasn’t posted anything Sundowns-related on his social media accounts since way back in July, something that could also hint at unhappiness at a club with whom he has been for just over a year.