Mamelodi Sundowns have not had a fine first half of the season by their very high standards but seem to be determined to get it right by their movement in the transfer market.
Sundowns have a three-point lead in the PSL after 11 games while they are yet to secure a place in the CAF Champions League quarter-final ahead of the final group match this weekend.
They need a draw to seal their place but this is uncharted territory for a Sundowns team that normally gets into mid-January with a huge league lead and a place in the quarter-final safely in the bag.
With their indifferent start to the season, Sundowns parted ways with coach Manqoba Mngqithi and appointed Portuguese Miguel Cardoso and while he has won five of his six games in charge, the Brazilians are still not producing eye-catching performances.
That has seen them respond in the January transfer market and are making some ‘boss moves’ going by who they are bringing in.
Who will Jayden Adams displace?
Sundowns have beaten their rivals to the signature of Stellenbosch midfielder Jayden Adams for a reported R20 million and he is set to add steel to their team whose midfield partnerships has been changing a lot this term.
Adams understands the PSL well and will be crucial for their title charge, giving the likes of Sphelele Mkhulise, Marcello Allende, Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas something to think about.
However, there are doubts over whether the 23-year-old has made the right decision because of the options Sundowns already have in midfield.
It is not certain that he will be a starter in Cardoso’s team which could further hamper his development and affect his place in the Bafana Bafana team ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December.
South American flair in defence
Sundowns have also made the decision to sign Argentine central defender Lucas Suarez on a one-year loan from CA Telleres to bolster their backline.
The left-footed defender will offer balance to Cardoso’s team but he also faces competition from the likes of Grant Kekana, Prince Khoza and Mosa Lebusa and it will be interesting to see how the coach utilises him.
However, it also means Sundowns will have to release one player to accommodate him given they have already exhausted their foreign quarter.
Do Sundowns need Lebo Mothiba?
Meanwhile, the Brazilians are also reported to have agreed to hand South African forward Lebo Mothiba a six-month deal to add him on their attack.
Sundowns have largely relied on Iqraam Rayners for goals with the likes of Kutlwano Letlhaku and Lucas Ribeiro also contributing while Peter Shalulile has come up trumps at times like last weekend.
Whether they need Mothiba is still debatable but he could replace Shalulile who is reported to be unhappy with life on the bench at Chloorkop.
