What the Siya crew has been told…
The Siya crew has been informed that interested suitors will need to pay around R2 million for Xulu’s signature at the end of the season, should Maritzburg agree to a transfer, and if the KZN outfit maintain their PSL status.
It’s a relatively small transfer fee for a player of the South African international’s calibre, though the fact that his contract will expire in just over one year needs to be taken into account.
However, there could be a further twist to the transfer fee. In what will come as a shock to some, the Siya crew has been informed that the highly-rated player could be transferred for as little as R1 million.
The Team of Choice are currently fighting for their survival in the PSL with just four games to go, and Siya sources have told the crew that Xulu’s valuation will be heavily dependent on the outcome of their relegation battle.
According to a source in the know, the 27-year-old could be sold at a bargain price of half the amount if Maritzburg are in fact relegated. According to the sources, that figure is around R1 million.
For R1 million, the mooted asking price if Maritzburg drop to the NFD, you can expect other clubs in the PSL to show interest, but Xulu may feel he is ready to return to one of the country’s top sides having put his tough spell at Kaizer Chiefs behind him.
According to the information made available to the Siya crew, Xulu has another year left on his contract with the club and they could want to cash in on the player instead of - potentially - losing him on a free.
With the Siya crew having been informed that Pirates and SuperSport are the only two clubs that have been linked to the player, to date, the crew investigated if a return to Chiefs was on the cards, and after digging deeper, it is clear that their focus in not in the defence.
High- ranking insiders at Amakhosi have indicated that there is ample cover at centre-back. Amakhosi’s focus, sources informed the crew, is up front where they have targeted the Zambian duo of Jesse Were and Idris Mbombo, amongst others.
However, a move to their cross city-rivals does seem like a possibility.
What could give Pirates the leg-up in landing Xulu is the connection with assistant coach Fadlu Davids, who enjoyed a successful 2017/18 season at Maritzburg, with the defender among his core group of experienced players.
However, Siya sources at Pirates have made it clear that the club is in no hurry to make any official offers for Maritzburg players - and that would include Xulu - out of respect for the position the side find themselves in.
Indications coming out of Pirates is that the club has already been offered a few players from Maritzburg, however they have not engaged in formal talks as yet and want to allow potential targets to concentrate on helping the club survive relegation.
After assessing Xulu’s future, apart from Bucs and SuperSport, the other big guns are not showing any interest, though if he does become available there is no doubt that they will assess the opportunity. Considering Rivaldo Coetzee and Musa Lebusa moved from Ajax Cape Town to Mamelodi Sundowns for around R10 million and R8 million, respectively, Xulu would be a complete snip for clubs with the financial muscle!
The club’s chairman, Farook Kadodia, was contacted for comment on Xulu’s future and while he suggested that the player could be on the move at the end of the season, he informed the Siya crew that he has not received any offers as yet.
Kadodia stated, “We have not received any offers yet for the player, but if it does come we will asses at the end of the season after we know the direction we are headed in. If the move will further a player’s career, then we wouldn’t stand in his way.”