With the deadline for finalising player retentions for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season fast approaching, Chennaiyin FC have decided to retain star striker Jeje Lalpekhlua on a lucrative three-year contract.
The South Indian franchise have also decided to sign youngsters Jerry Lalrinzuala and Anirudh Thapa.
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Jeje Lalpekhlua has been part of the Chennaiyin FC setup since the inaugural edition in 2014 and has been a regular source of goals up front. The 26-year-old striker was especially vital in Chennaiyin's victorious campaign in 2015 in which he scored 6 goals.
Though his goal return dwindled in 2016 where manager Marco Materazzi was criticised for rotating his squad far too often, the Super Machans have decided to tie down the forward after confirming Englishman John Gregory as their manager.
It has been learnt that the deal will see Jeje become one of the highest paid Indian players in the league currently, eclipsing Amrinder Singh's big money move to Mumbai City FC.
AIFF Media
The 2016 AIFF Player of the Year had been on loan at Mohun Bagan in the recently concluded I-League and scored five goals in seventeen appearances.
Goal reported earlier that Chennaiyin have also decided to retain 31-year-old Karanjit Singh, who was impressive on loan at Chennai City FC in the recently concluded I-League.
Apart from that, 2016 ISL's Emerging Player of the Year, Jerry Lalrinzuala, and Anirudh Thapa, who was on loan at Minerva Punjab recently, have also been retained by Chennaiyin FC under the U21 player quota for a further two years.
However, since the 18-year-old Jerry already has a national team cap, Chennaiyin FC can only enter the Indian player draft from round four.
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