Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 7y

Mamelodi Sundowns open contract negotiations with Khama Billiat

Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed that they have opened contract negotiations with leading forward Khama Billiat, who had been tipped for a move to Europe in the next transfer window.

The Zimbabwean international played a leading role in helping the side to African Champions League success in 2016, and has expressed a desire to further his career in Europe.

But Sundowns, who have lost leading men Bongani Zungu (SC Vitoria, Portugal) and Keagan Dolly (Montpellier HSC, France) in the last year, are keen to tie down the forward and have opened negotiations with him even though he still has another season left on his current contract.

The 26-year-old Billiat - who joined Sundowns in August 2013 on a three-year contract with two one-year options - has previously been linked with Club Brugge and KV Oostende in Belgium, as well as both Cairo giants Zamalek and Al Ahly in Egypt.

Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane has been forced to speak out this week over a perceived tendency for the club to allow players' deals to run down, rather than tie them down to long-term deals.

"We have been dealing with contracts to be renewed. Some players have option clauses in their contracts which favour the club, and we have exercised options on the contracts of players like Leo Castro and Wayne Arendse, and we will be keeping them for the next year," Mosimane said.

"There has been lots of talk and speculation about our players. We need to assure our supporters that we are not casual about contracts. We are working hard to finalise them.

"People must realise that contracts are negotiated, and this is not an easy process. We recently concluded negotiations for a contract extension for our captain Hlompho Kekana, and his contract has been renewed.

"Keeping our captain is important. He led the team to the Champions League and the Super Cup, and through the current league season. It is important to keep him and other important players as we begin the defence of the Champions League.

"But with all the games we have been playing, we just could not tie down things as we did not want to destabilise our players either."

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