Zimbabwean international fullback, Onismor Bhasera, has been linked with a January move to English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday or a club in the Belgian top-flight football league.
Report by Michael Madyira
Two Belgian Jupiler Pro League clubs, Cercle Brugge and Oud-Heverlee Leuven, are interested in the Plymouth Argyle left-back.
Leuven are home to Warriors midfielder Ovidy Karuru, while Cercle are former club of Vusa Nyoni, Honour Gombami and Obadiah Tarumbwa. Sheffield Wednesday have renewed their bid for the player, whom they nearly landed in January 2010 before a knee problem prevented him from signing.
“Baz”, as Bhasera is affectionately known at Plymouth Argyle, is arguably the club’s best player and his contract has two more years left.
The former Kaizer Chiefs defender’s agent Ralph Nkomo said all three clubs had already been impressed with what they had seen from the 25-year-old while in action for his English League Two club.
League Two is three tiers below the English Premiership.
Bhasera’s chances of signing for Sheffield Wednesday have been brightened by the fact that club chairman Milan Mandaric is a longtime admirer of the player since his days at the helm of Portsmouth, when Pompey made moves for the player in 2009.
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Mandaric and Nkomo worked together closely during the latter’s time as Portsmouth’s chief scout in Africa.
“We have already discussed with the Belgian clubs and they both want him to come in January. But the one that tables the biggest offer will get him,” said Nkomo.
According to transfermarket.co.uk, Bhasera is valued at US$161 610. Nkomo could not be drawn into disclosing the amount of money being offered by the suitors.
However, Cercle Brugge could fall by the wayside in the race for the player’s signature if they continue with their woeful run, which has seen then anchoring the Jupiler Pro League log standings.
A contract dispute with former club Kaizer Chiefs in 2009, saw Bhasera failing to secure a contract with Portsmouth, who were struggling financially.
This was the period where Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday were in the race to sign the player.
Sheffield Wednesday were willing to pay the US$484 830 sum demanded by Chiefs, but the player’s knee troubles meant that he failed medicals with the “Owls”.
Bhasera has played for Tembisa Classic and Maritzburg United of South Africa.
