Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter hinted on Sunday that despite wanting Knowledge Musona to stay, the player’s heart was not with Amakhosi.
“We would have all loved to bring Knowledge because he settled in last year and he became a very important member of the squad,” Baxter said after Musona’s representatives released a statement on Friday, ruling out a deal with the Glamour Boys.
“I do think it’s important that we have players at the club who want to be at Kaizer Chiefs — who are black and gold all the way through.
“If, somewhere in the deal, there’s not that commitment, then I think that’s also something the club should take into account.”
The Zimbabwean striker spent all of last season on loan at Chiefs from German club Hoffenheim and Baxter was hopeful Musona would sign a permanent deal in South Africa after the player failed to nail down a regular first-team role in Germany and has seemingly been deemed surplus to requirements.
“When we talk about the Knowledge deal not happening at the time we wanted it to happen, and it drags on and on and at the same time gets more expensive, then you have to ask yourself the question, is this good business?” Baxter said.
Musona’s agent, Mike Makaab, said on Friday Musona had ambitions of furthering his career abroad and was not willing to commit his long-term future to a South African club.
Despite being an active participant in signing players and identifying potential transfer targets, Baxter said he simply left the decision up to the club’s backroom staff.
“I just accept whatever decision the club has made. If they tell me this is going to put a strain on our budget to the degree that we don’t think we can do it, I accept that.
“If they say they’re going ahead then I’ll accept that. So I just work with the players that I’ve got.”
With less than a week to go until the August transfer window slams shut, Baxter remained coy on whether Chiefs would look to bring in a few new faces, but warned supporters not to expect signings for the sake of it.
“If we get something that we like at the right price, then I’m sure we’re interested,” he said.
“I don’t want to get into the habit of trying to solve our problems with a cheque-book. I really want to use the players at my disposal.” – Sapa
