Sundowns sign Thabo Cele, target another midfielder

Sundowns sign Thabo Cele, target another midfielder Mamelodi Sundowns have completed the signing of Thabo Cele following his departure from Kaizer Chiefs and have set their sights on another midfielder. Information reaching FARPost indicates that Cele has put pen to paper with the reigning African champions after talks between the two parties progressed swiftly. The midfielder has completed his medical, and the club is expected to announce the deal soon. With the Cele deal now wrapped up, Sundowns are now exploring the possibility of bringing Durban City's Tylo Sanger to Chloorkop. The 22-year-old has attracted interest from both Sundowns and Orlando Pirates following his performances for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit. However, the Brazilians appear to be further ahead in their pursuit as they explore bringing him to Chloorkop. No agreement has been reached at this stage, but Sanger has emerged as another player firmly on Sundowns' radar as they look to strengthen their midfield options. Sundowns see him as a player for the future and would reportedly be open to loaning him back to the KZN club. THABO CELE WAS DEEMED SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS Cele, meanwhile, became available after mutually terminating his contract with Chiefs, ending a difficult 18-month spell with the Soweto giants. The 29-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements at Amakhosi, having been limited to 10 starts last season. The former Fakel Voronezh midfielder played a prominent role during his first six months at the club, helping Chiefs win their first trophy in almost a decade. He was part of Nasreddine Nabi's team that won the Nedbank Cup, ending the club's nine-year trophy drought. Chiefs' new head coach, Fernando Da Cruz, made it clear that the former South Africa youth international was not part of his plans. The French tactician reached that decision without seeing Cele train with the rest of the team. Cele was left out of Amakhosi's pre-season tour of Spain, with Da Cruz insisting he had sufficient options in the midfielder's position. That effectively closed the door on Cele forcing his way back into the team. He has now landed on his feet at Chloorkop, where he will hope to revive his career alongside his former national Under-23 teammate Teboho Mokoena. Sundowns have been looking to strengthen their midfield following the tragic death of Jayden Adams shortly after the FIFA World Cup. Their involvement in domestic and continental competitions has also increased the need for squad depth. Cele's overseas stints included several seasons at Portugal's Real SC and Cova da Piedade, as well as with Radomiak Radom in Poland and Russian outfit Fakel Voronezh. His arrival follows the recent signing of former Orlando Pirates right-back Deano Van Rooyen, who also joined the Tshwane giants as a free agent. RELATED STORY: Kaizer Chiefs terminate Thabo Cele's contract