Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs’ decision to reject a significant offer for striker Ashley Du Preez during the recent transfer window is now facing scrutiny.
Reports suggest the club turned down a substantial bid from Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes, potentially missing out on a lucrative deal and hindering their ability to strengthen their squad.
According to Soccer-Laduma, Vitoria Guimaraes tabled an offer in the region of €2 million (R40 million) for Du Preez. However, a source close to the situation revealed that Chiefs’ hesitation stemmed from a lack of suitable attacking replacements.
“There was a strong desire to see him move to Europe, but the lack of a replacement has complicated matters. An offer of R40 million was reportedly on the table, which could have facilitated the signing of several quality strikers. However, without a guarantee of securing those targets, the move was halted. This has been a significant stumbling block. The interest was genuine, and it’s unfortunate that the deal didn’t materialize for both the club (Chiefs) and Du Preez. Nevertheless, there is still hope for a potential move in January,” the source explained.
The missed opportunity highlights a potential miscalculation by the Chiefs management. Du Preez, a joint-most expensive signing in the club's history, cost Chiefs €600,000 (R11.2 million) – a figure equivalent to the inflation-adjusted sum paid for Morgan Gould in the 2012-2013 season. His performance since joining, however, has raised questions about the value of that investment.
In two and a half seasons with Chiefs, Du Preez has managed 18 goals and seven assists from 68 appearances. While this represents a slight improvement on his record at Stellenbosch FC (13 goals and eight assists in 69 games), the source points out that the improved attacking options at Chiefs should have theoretically led to a more significant increase in his output.
“18 goals and seven assists from 68 appearances in a Chiefs jersey is only a slight upgrade on the 13 goals and eight assists he managed in 69 games for Stellenbosch. Given that there are better players creating chances around him, in theory at least, Du Preez hasn’t improved. Not every player can flourish like Rushwin Dortley has,” the source commented.
With Du Preez’s current market value estimated at around €1 million, Chiefs might now view a sale as a viable option. However, securing a comparable offer from a local club is unlikely. While rumours of foreign interest in the 27-year-old circulated, no offers were accepted. This decision now leaves the club facing potential regret, particularly given the substantial financial gains they could have realised from the Vitoria Guimaraes offer.
The R40 million offer represented a significant profit on their initial investment and could have provided crucial funds to bolster other areas of the team. The club's failure to secure suitable replacements before potentially selling Du Preez proved to be a major obstacle, leaving them in a less-than-ideal position heading into the next transfer window.
