Hunt on for signing of new talent

THE trading of South African players between clubs can begin, with the opening of the January soccer transfer window on Sunday.

There is the potential for a busy month as teams at the top of the table seek to put the finishing touches to their squads‚ and clubs at the bottom try to find the right formula for survival.

BidVest Wits and SuperSport United have already said they will be adding numbers to their squads.

Wits coach Gavin Hunt is excited at reuniting English striker James Keene with young starlet Phakamani Mahlambi.

Both have had lengthy spells on the sidelines‚ but Keene will be reregistered this month to build on a fine start to his career in South Africa in which he netted eight goals in 12 starts in the second half of last season.

Another player tipped to join Wits‚ though it has not been confirmed yet‚ is former Ajax Cape Town midfielder Granwald Scott‚ who has failed to get a regular start in Slovakia with Slovan Bratislava.

SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter said: “You ask any coach approaching any window‚ he will always give you the classic‚ ‘we are always on the look-out in the market‚ blah‚ blah‚ blah’.

“The truth is, our budget does not allow us to do loads of things. We are not a Chiefs‚ Pirates or Sundowns that has loads of money in the kitty.

“But you are also talking to a coach who has had 17 fit players for the last three games. I would love to get in one or two‚ but will we be paying the kind of money that [Brazilian international] Oscar is making in China? No we won’t,” Baxter said.

“I don’t think I will be making many headlines for you‚ but we must be looking because of the situation with injuries.”

The big question at Mamelodi Sundowns is who could be leaving the club this window‚ with Keagan Dolly seemingly the most likely.

Khama Billiat is a target for a few European clubs but will probably only move at the end of the season‚ if at all.

But Dolly has been the subject of a ß500 000 (R7.2-million) bid from French Ligue 1 side Montpellier‚ according to reports.

That is unlikely to tempt Sundowns in parting with one of their star players‚ but could just be an opening gambit from the French.

The new rule in the Premier Soccer League this season allows clubs to deregister foreign players and sign others.