Recent history suggests that Kaizer Chiefs fans should be cautiously optimistic over the club's prospect of recruiting much-needed striker reinforcements in the January transfer window.
Since making known that they are chasing another number nine to assist Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, Chiefs have been flooded with countless options from all over the world.
The names have included Balint Bajner, Boris Kopitovic, Dino Ndlovu, Zehrudin Mehmedovic, Amanuel Gebremichael, alongside several South American options.
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However, what should be of concern is the disappointing success rate of past strikers signed during the mid-season break in recent years.
KickOff looks at the return that Chiefs got from strikers that were signed mid-season since just before the 2010 World Cup.
Jose Torrealba – came to Chiefs in January 2008 after having previously been at Mamelodi Sundowns but his scoring return at Naturena was disappointing with only seven in almost three years and faded away having only really contributed only in his first year.
Ibezito Ogbonna – the big Nigerian found himself at Chiefs as a free agent towards the end of 2008 and though he scored four goals in 12 appearances he wasn't what the club needed and was offloaded at the end of his first season.
Abia Nale – came through in January 2009 and scored eight goals in four years playing as an attacking midfielder at Chiefs.
Stanton Lews – in January 2011, Lewis came in on loan from Ajax Cape Town and scored twice in 11 appearances but just didn't tick the boxes that Chiefs needed and so was gone at the end of the season.
Katlego Mphela – came to Chiefs in January 2014 having been a scorer of note but was just fading away through his time at the club with his appearances and goals just dropping and there was no surprise when he was gone 18 months later.
David Zulu – in January 2015, Zulu was signed and his time at Naturena was a struggle failing to score in the seven appearances he made until he returned to Chippa at the beginning of the following year.
William Twala – he was a January 2016 signing from Chiefs but was let go two years later having scored three goals in 50 appearances playing on the wing.
Gustavo Paez – signed in January 2017 amid so much of expectations and scored 10 in 53 appearances spread over almost 30 months. He was rusty in his last season.
Leonardo Castro – the Colombian arrived at Naturena in January 2018 and for all the football brains that he had what he gave Chiefs on a bigger package never compared to what Mamelodi Sundowns got out of him. He didn't score a single goal in 13 appearances in his last season and his contract was not renewed.
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