Percy Tau’s return to Sundowns ‘doomed’ as Al Ahly stay becomes likely

Percy Tau’s return to Mamelodi Sundowns has been deemed ‘doomed’ by South African reports as the forward set for Al Ahly’s stay.

South African publication SNL24 had revealed last week that negotiations between Sundowns and Tau are in an advanced stage.

This came after Tau was spotted watching his former club Sundowns beating their rivals Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the South African Premiership.

“As we speak now, the chances are 80% that Tau would sign for Sundowns,” An unnamed source told the South African website last week.

However, the same publication now believes that Tau’s return to Sundowns is highly unlikely as Al Ahly would only agree on the player’s departure for a European team.

“You see, as I told you last time, Sundowns had an 80% chance of acquiring Tau’s services but the stumbling block is his contract with Al Ahly,” the same source told SNL24.

“Now, we see the club (Al Ahly) has a watertight contract with him. It doesn’t allow him to move to any team mainly in Africa unless he is a free agent. That’s tough.

“They say they can make an exception for European offers. That’s where the problem lies now. The club really wanted him back and to play a major part mainly in the Champions League.

“So, as it stands now, the talks seemed to be doomed.”

It has been known that while Al Ahly are trying to sign a new foreign striker, Algerian midfielder Ahmed Kendouci is the player who will depart the club to leave a room in the foreign-based list.

Even despite the arrival of Moroccan winger Reda Slim from FAR Rabat earlier this summer, Al Ahly boss Marcel Koller is an admirer of Percy Tau.

Under Koller, Tau scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in 43 games and was one of the main reasons behind the Reds’ Champions League triumph last season.

Al Ahly are also keen on keeping all of their key players for next season as the club set to take part in both the African Super League and the Club World Cup.