Having secured the services of defensive minded players Diamond Thopola and Phetso Maphanga, Orlando Pirates are now looking to sharpen up their attack, club chairman Irvin Khoza has said.
The Iron Duke of local football is hopeful that Thopola and Maphanga will give them balance at the back hence they have shifted they focus to attaining a striker.
“We are no longer conceding goals like we did last season. Our technical team has instilled discipline at the back. We just wanted to find balance at the back because we were not 100 percent. We hope that Maphanga, and Diamond will give us that balance. We need to beef up upfront now,” Khoza explained.
Pirates had pinned their hopes on Thamsanqa Gabuza, Thabiso Kutumela and Ayanda Nkosi but the trio has not really delivered.
Who will Pirates go for in the January transfer window? The Star looks at five strikers who won't look out of place in black and white:
Thobani Mncwango
Mncwango hasn’t played this season. He is unhappy at Polokwane City and wants to leave. Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have shown interest in his services before but City refused to release him. He has six months on his existing contract with City. Mncwango can sign a pre-contract with the club of his choice next month. This is City's last chance to cash in on him before they lose him for free in June.
Evans Rusike (Maritzburg United)
The Zimbabwean has been on Pirates' radar for two seasons. Rusike has already netted four goals this season. He possesses height, strength, power, skill and composure in-front of goal. He is still contracted to Maritzburg for the next two and half seasons. Pirates shouldn't be put off by the need to break the bank for this quality finisher.
Rodney Ramagalela (Polokwane City)
Ramagalela has been one of the few consistent strikers this season. He has scored eight goals in 14 league appearances. Ramagalela knows what it is like to play for a big team having been at Mamelodi Sundowns before. That experience can help him to overcome pressure at Pirates, but he will be expensive.
Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns)
His agent has already confirmed that there’s local interest in Billiat despite his priority being a move to Europe. If there’s one man who is able to sign any player he wants, it is the "Chairman".
Billiat wants to leave Sundowns. Could he be the surprise signing for Pirates? Could Rhulani Mokwena convince him to rekindle their partnership at Pirates? Though not an outright striker, he can play as a false nine.
Prince Nxumalo (Ajax Cape Town)
Sundowns are trying hard to secure Nxumalo's services with Pitso Mosimane having already held talks with him at Durban's Gateway Mall. But the fact that Sundowns are talking to him doesn’t guarante him signing. Justin Shonga to Mamelodi Sundowns looked like a done deal but he ended up at Pirates. Can Pirates deceive Sundowns again? Only time will tell. With Ajax keen on signing Riyaad Norodien on loan, we might just see a swap deal.