Kaizer Chiefs could be about to lose out one of their key transfer targets after it emerged that Kenyan striker Michael Olunga is attracting interest from Japan.
Olunga has become available to clubs following his release from Qatari club Al Duhail last week, allowing interested clubs to sign him without paying a transfer fee, and Chiefs are among sides reported to be keen on him.
The Kenyan captain is a goal machine after netting a record 130 goals in four-and-a-half years at the Doha-based club to lead them to numerous trophies and it is just what Amakhosi are in need of after their strikers Wandile Duba, Ashley Du Preez, Ranga Chivaviro scored a combined nine goals in the PSL in the just-concluded season.
Which club wants to sign Michael Olunga?
However, according to J Football Now, which reports matters to do with Japanese football, Asian giants Urawa Red Diamonds are interested in Olunga ahead of the 2025 FUFA Club World Cup.
“Urawa Reds are interested in signing former Kashiwa forward Michael Olunga,” the account said via a social media post.
Olunga could be swayed by a return to Japan as he played there for nearly three years with Kashiwa Reysol before making the switch to Qatar in January 2021, having scored 61 goals in 78 matches across all competitions.
He was the top scorer in the Japanese top flight in 2020 with 28 goals to win both the Golden Boot and MVP awards, a first for an African player.
Chiefs could miss out on Kenyan striker in June
Chiefs might therefore miss out again on a player who can guarantee them goals, something coach Nasreddine Nabi has been crying out for since he joined the club.
Urawa are four-time Japan champions and have won the Asian Champions League three times, with their FIFA Club World Cup group pitting them against Italian giants Inter Milan, River Plate of Argentina and Mexican side Monterrey.
It is not known if Olunga would be interested in returning to Japan but if he does, then it could be in the next two weeks after the special FIFA transfer window opened on June 1 to allow Club World Cup sides to sign players until it closes on June 10, before the tournament kicks off on June 14 in the United States.
