Paris FC pushing for permanent Phiri deal
Bafana Bafana international Lebo Phiri could be staying in France permanently if his current club, Paris FC, get their way.
The 28-year-old returned to familiar territory when Rizespor agreed to loan him out to the French Ligue 2 outfit for a season, having not had the best of times in the Turkish topflight despite signing a long-term deal.
Phiri spent four years at Guingamp in Ligue 1 and stayed even when the club got relegated to the lower division before a devasting injury kept him out for long periods and affected his game-time upon his return.
As a way to test himself and start afresh, the midfielder took on a new challenge by joining Rizespor, who had signed him on a three-year contract.
But being in and out of the team forced Phiri to explore another avenue for game-time, given that he is still trying to impress Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who is yet to call him up since being appointed by SAFA in May last year.
According to Siya sources, Paris have already tabled an offer to buy Phiri outright from Turkey and bring him back to France. It’s believed the player is open the move because he was setin Paris prior to the transfer, although this all depends on Rizespor as the parent club. Phiri arrived in France with a niggling injury, but has since shrugged it off to feature in all of their previous six matches before the FIFA World Cup break.