With all eyes on whether Orlando Pirates star forward Relebohile Mofokeng will get an overseas move, KickOff analyzes his value and how much he could be sold for.
Mofokeng has not only become arguably the best young player in South Africa but perhaps also the most talked about footballer, based on talent and consistency.
Reports that Barcelona have shown interest in the 20-year-old has the potential to increase his value, with a number of European teams also interested in the Sharpeville-born attacker.
Since Mofokeng appears to be the best young talent that has emerged in the PSL since Percy Tau at Mamelodi Sundowns between 2016 and 2018, it is fair to judge the Buccaneers forward based on statistics compared to the 'Lion of Judah' during his breakthrough seasons at Masandawana.
READ | 'Tau is playing individually and only thinks about himself'
After two excellent campaigns, the Witbank forward eventually got his dream move after he was sold to English Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion for a reported R50 million, which made him the most expensive South African outgoing transfer from the PSL to date.
Tau posted eight goals and eight assists in 49 matches for Sundowns in the 2016/17 campaign and had his best season prior to be sold, after scoring 13 times and had 17 assists in the 2017/18 term.
Prior to being sold, the Al Ahly forward was valued at R32 million by transfer website Transfermarkt and The Tshwane giants had an extra R18 million cushion from the favourable negotiations, which are not dictated by any fixed price valuation.
As things stand, Mofokeng is valued at R15 million by the same website, which is not a value dictated by demand and supply but judging from Tau's transfer, should Pirates get double that amount, it could still be considered a low figure, especially considering that the Witbank born striker was 24.
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In terms of numbers, which play a huge role in transfers, the 20-year-old scored only five goals and had six assists in 19 games, in his first full season at The Buccaneers in the 2023/24 campaign.
Mofokeng may get close to the 13 goals and 17 assists by Tau in his last season at Sundowns, as the nimbe-footed attacker has already scored four goals and has seven assists (before Pirates face Marumo Gallants on Christmas Eve).
So can he break the R50 million transfer record held by Tau? As previously reported by this publication, according to a reliable source, Chelsea would be willing to pay between R23 million and R46 million for Emile Witbooi, should his assessment be successful, who is yet to debut for Cape Town City senior team.
And considering the increase in the exchange rate since 2018, Mofokeng could become the most expensive South African transfer from the PSL, since Tau or he could land just below the R50 million mark.