Al-Ittihad reject MAS Fes bid for Thembinkosi Lorch

Ittihad rebuff MAS Fes Lorch advances

Africa Today at 12:04

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Al-Ittihad reject MAS Fes bid for Thembinkosi Lorch

Photo: Al-Ittihad @ Facebook

Foot Africa has established that Libyan giants Al-Ittihad Tripoli have rebuffed advances from Moroccan champions MAS Fes over the services of Thembinkosi Lorch.

The 33-year-old attacker is currently the subject of an uncertain future in Libya despite only joining the club in January this year in a big money move from Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco.

This comes after compatriot Rulani Mokwena abruptly parted ways with Ittihad just four months into his lucrative two-year deal in Tripoli - and has since replaced Krunoslav Jurcic at Egyptian side Pyramids FC.

While Lorch was not signed by the 39-year-old South African mentor at the 18-time Libyan champions, the club is said to be open to letting go of their prized January recruits, having recently sold Stephen Aziz Ki to Young Africans.

Now, sources have indicated that MAS Fes tabled a bid for the services of the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates forward, with the offer swiftly rejected by the Libyan big spenders.

It's understood there's a massive gap in valuation between the two clubs, with Ittihad holding out for a bigger fee to sanction the player's exit before the end of his one-and-a-half-year deal.

Lorch, meanwhile, is said to be keen on a return to the Botola Pro League, where he would link up with countrymen Tshegofatso Mabasa and Devin Titus should a deal to MAS Fes prove successful.

Having ended their 40-year league drought under former AmaZulu FC boss Pablo Franco Martin last term, the Moroccan side is actively looking to assemble a squad capable of staking their claim in the CAF Champions League.

Whether MAS Fes will return to the negotiation table for Lorch remains to be seen, with the player on the radar of several other clubs who are looking to test Ittihad's resolve.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.