Wydad Athletic Club are reportedly still keen to retain Thembinkosi Lorch, but the latest reason why the proposed move has stalled has now been revealed.
Reports suggest that the Wydad-Lorch saga is not over just yet.
The South African star spent the second half of last season on loan at the Moroccan giants, where he impressed during his six-month spell.
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Notably, Lorch was arguably Wydad's best player at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where he also scored against Italian giants Juventus.
As a result, Wydad's management and coaching staff were said to be impressed with the Free State-born footballer, with reports indicating a unanimous agreement among them to push to make Lorch’s signing permanent.
Although talks have taken place between all parties involved, including Sundowns, the move has yet to materialise.
An update on the situation has seemingly emerged, with Moroccan outlet Le Site Info reporting that the deal has stalled due to two key reasons.
Le Site Info claims that while Wydad still want to sign Lorch, one concern is the fact that he is now 32 years of age with alleged high wage demands. Combined with his age, this has led the club to return to the drawing board to reassess the feasibility of offering the player the lucrative contract he desires.
Additionally, Wydad are said to find the situation more complicated due to the transfer fee demanded by Sundowns, making the entire deal a complex financial exercise.
In the meantime, Lorch is believed to be training alone and not with his parent club Sundowns.
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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