With the transfer window having officially opened on Monday, Kickoff has the latest regarding the future of Bafana Bafana midfielder Sphephelo Sithole.
Sithole's stellar performances for Bafana has put him in the shop window of bigger European clubs, with the common belief that it is only a matter of time before he leaves Portuguese second division side Tondela.
The 25-year-old has become a common feature in Hugo Broos' starting line-up and after South Africa walked away with a bronze medal at the January Africa Cup of Nations, interest has peaked in the Ulundi-born midfielder.
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Sithole held his own against world class midfielders such Yves Bissouma of Mali and Morocco international Sofyan Amrabat of Manchester United during the AFCON.
After completing the 2023/24 Portuguese second division season with Tondela, who finished sixth on in the standings, in June, there has been a lot of interest on where the Bafana midfielder is likely to end up ahead of the new campaign.
Kickoff has established that a team in LaLiga and another outfit in the Portuguese top flight outfit, with the names of the clubs protected at this stage, have shown serious interest in Sithole.
However, this website has been led to believe that to make the transfer would not be easy, as Tondela has put a huge price tag on the South African, which could drag negotiations or scare off his suitors.
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The Gold and Greens reportedly put around €3 million (+- R60 million) price tag on Sithole in the January transfer window.
The Ulundi native has a year left on his contract with Tondela and so the Portuguese outfit could be cornered to sell but Kickoff understands that they will only let the Bafana star bid them farewell in this current window at the right price.