Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha's agency has opened up on reports linking the 24-year-old with interest from England.
Mbatha has been a vital cog in midfield for Pirates since being signed on loan from SuperSport United in January and the technical team was impressed enough to trigger the option to make his move permanent.
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The lanky player's form has impressed Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who has included him in his 23-man squad that will do battle against Uganda and South Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The call-up comes on the back of reports that he has attracted interest from English Championship side Cardiff City.
According to Soccer Laduma, Cardiff scouts followed Mbatha during Pirates' pre-season tour of Spain and were left impressed.
ProSport International CEO, Mike Makaab, says he would not be surprised if the Bluebirds are indeed hot on the heels of the red-hot star.
"It wouldn't surprise me [if Cardiff are interested], but it has not come directly to me and you know, we're very much involved in a platform called TransferRoom," Makaab told KickOff.
"So, we're very actively involved in TransferRoom. The days of footballers going on trial because you pick up a phone and you speak to a club and say: 'I have a wonderful midfielder, he has these attributes I'd like you to consider him on trial'... Those days are really in the past.
"Today, football clubs are very involved in analysis and their analysis team will say we're looking for a six with these attributes, for example," the experienced agent added.
"And at their fingertips, then they would highlight a few players they believe fit the bill and then either approach the football club directly or the player's agent, and that's how modern football works these days.
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"So, I just think if Thalente continues what he's doing, this will happen naturally."
Mamelodi Sundowns used TransferRoom to acquire Marcelo Allende when they put forward a description of the type of player they were looking for, in a $3million (R51 million, exchange rate of 2022) sale that took within two weeks to conclude.