Sundowns waiting on Zungu's signature

Mamelodi Sundowns have improved their offer to midfielder Bongani Zungu and are confident he will snub overseas interest in favour of returning to Chloorkop as a free agent, SABC Sport has established.

The Brazilians initially tabled an audacious offer for the now former Amiens SC player at the end of May when it was confirmed he would be leaving the French club and was weighing up his options for his next move.

While SABC Sport has been made aware that Zungu has several suitors for his services, none of them have moved swiftly enough for the 29-year-old to put pen to paper and commit to his next destination.

But that could soon be settled, with the latest information gathered by the public broadcaster's sports desk that Sundowns have gone back to the player and his camp to negotiate better personal terms, which, given Zungu™s status as a free agent, is easier as there will be no transfer fee involved.

The DStv Premiership champions know that they are competing with clubs abroad for the player, hence the ongoing talks to meet his demands and add him to their roster before the start of the 2022/23 season early next month.

Sources at the club say the ball is now in the player™s court to decide whether he wants to return to a club where he became a household name between 2013 and 2016, prior to moving to Portugal and then later France.

Zungu also had a loan stint in Scotland with Rangers, where he played under then manager Steven Gerrard - the Liverpool legend now coaching Aston Villa in the English Premier League.

At the moment, he is keeping fit on his own but Downs want him to join their pre-season this week - just several days before their opening DStv Premiership clash away to Cape Town City on 5 August.

It™s likely that the deal could be rubberstamped in the coming days, but Zungu has been enjoying the freedom to decide his own future as a free agent and could try stall making the final call, in case there™s a solid offer that comes through from abroad.

Downs, however, are ready and eager to register the Bafana Bafana star as one of their marquee signings for the upcoming campaign.

By Mazola Molefe