Johannesburg – Orlando Pirates skipper Oupa Manyisa is on the verge of joining Mamelodi Sundowns, according to the SA Broadcasting Commission (SABC).
The national broadcaster said Manyisa's agent had confirmed that the highly sought-after player was at an advanced stage of negotiations and could be linking up with the Brazilians before the resumption of the Premiership season.
“As things stand, Manyisa will join Mamelodi Sundowns before the transfer window closes,” Thabo Moloto told the SABC website.
Moloto said Sundowns' owner Patrice Motsepe had already met with Pirates' chairman Irvin Khoza to finalise the deal, with the transfer fee the only hurdle still left to discuss.
Manyisa, who joined Pirates in 2008, had been linked with a move away from the Buccaneers for several months, with Kaizer Chiefs seemingly favourites to lure the midfield linchpin away from Pirates.
Earlier this week, Chiefs' director of football, Bobby Motaung, dismissed interest from Chiefs and ruled out any deals between the two rival clubs.
Pirates had attempted to hold onto the dribbling maestro by handing Manyisa the captain's armband but he looked set to cash in at big-spending Sundowns, who had earned a reputation over the years of being able to double or sometimes treble a player's salary.
Manyisa was currently away with Bafana Bafana ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament which kicks off in Equatorial Guinea this weekend. – Sapa