Yanga did not announce any new signings yesterday despite an earlier promise by the club's Information and Communications Manager, Ali Kamwe. Reports indicate that club president Engineer Hersi Said was instead focused on completing several major transfer negotiations.
The Tanzanian champions are said to be aiming to finalise all deals involving their foreign targets before officially unveiling the new arrivals.
Three High-Profile Targets
According to reports, Hersi Said is working to complete three marquee signings that could cost Yanga's sponsor, Ghalib Said Mohamed (GSM), billions of Tanzanian shillings.
The three players are Stephane Aziz Ki, Jean Claude Girumugisha, and Peter Shalulile.
Stephane Aziz Ki
Aziz Ki remains in Tanzania as he awaits the outcome of negotiations, with Hersi Said continuing efforts to complete the transfer despite Al Ittihad demanding a substantial transfer fee.
Reports indicate that Yanga and Aziz Ki agreed on personal terms some time ago, but Libyan club Al Ittihad are seeking approximately TSh 1.9 billion to release the Burkina Faso international, who still has two years remaining on his contract.
It is also reported that Aziz Ki has already decided not to return to Libya and is involved in a contractual dispute with Al Ittihad over unpaid signing-on fees agreed when he joined the club from Wydad in January.
If the move goes ahead, Yanga's sponsor GSM would reportedly have to meet the club's transfer demands to secure the midfielder's return.
Jean Claude Girumugisha
The transfer saga surrounding Al Hilal attacking midfielder Jean Claude Girumugisha has drawn comparisons with Yanga's pursuit of Aziz Ki from ASEC Mimosas in 2022.
Several reports have claimed that the Rwandan Premier League's Most Valuable Player last season has already agreed to join Libya's Al Ahli Tripoli in a deal reportedly worth around TSh 13 billion.
However, the Libyan club has yet to officially unveil him, while Yanga remain among the clubs strongly linked with the player.
Reports suggest that Hersi Said began pursuing the winger as early as March. Girumugisha's agent has previously confirmed Yanga's interest while stating that the player's market value exceeds US$1.5 million.
Despite widespread belief that Yanga would struggle to complete the deal, some observers believe the club could once again pull off a surprise signing similar to the arrival of Aziz Ki in 2022.
Peter Shalulile
Namibia international striker Peter Shalulile is currently a free agent after the expiry of his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Yanga have been linked with the experienced forward, although they face competition from other major clubs, including Pyramids and Orlando Pirates.
Head coach Manqoba Mngqithi reportedly views Shalulile as the ideal player to strengthen Yanga's attack, having worked closely with him during their time together at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Shalulile is the all-time leading scorer in South Africa's Premier Division with 133 goals. Should Yanga succeed in signing him, it would rank among the biggest transfer stories in Tanzanian football.
