Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadioda has confirmed that the club is ‘in the final stages’ of agreeing a deal with Orlando Pirates for midfielder Fortune Makaringe.

The chairman revealed the developments to the media during a briefing on Monday, where he also revealed that coach Eric Tinkler has signed a new two-year deal.

Makaringe is currently in camp with Bafana Bafana as he looks to force his way into Stuart Baxter’s final 23-man squad for the upcoming African Cup of Nations in June, and will be aiming to top off a good off season with the big move to the Soweto giants.

It is no secret that the Buccaneers were keen on the midfielder, and though it has been rumoured that Kaizer Chiefs were also interested, it seems that Milutin Sredojevic will get his man.

‘We are currently in the final stages with Orlando Pirates in terms of Makaringe,’ Kadodia said during the media briefing.

‘They made an official offer and we promised we won’t stand in the way of any player, hence the coach on Saturday against TTM gave him and [Siphesihle] Ndlovu a chance to say a farewell to the fans.’

With Makaringe’s imminent arrival, a number of squad players are thought to be on their way out of Mayfair, with th likes of Linda Mntambo and Mpho Makola thought to be surplus to requirements.

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