The 2017/18 Premier Soccer League season is now a thing of the past as all the PSL giants are busy making strides behind the scenes to sign new players.
Players are set to leave and join new clubs while some remain in limbo, but there’s one big transfer target for the big guns in the league.
Mamelodi Sundowns are reportedly chasing one of the most talented players in the country.
Speculation is intensifying that Jali could opt against signing for his former club in Orlando Pirates and move to Chloorkop.
The supporters are keeping their eyes peeled in anticipation of where the Matatiele-born midfielder will be playing his football next season.
With his future yet to be decided, Goal takes a look at how the Brazilians could line-up with the player’s inclusion in the starting eleven.
4-3-3 FORMATION
Goal
With Sundowns’ style of using flair regardless of the result, it is highly possible that coach Pitso Mosimane will not use the midfielder for a different role than his usually central position.
The 28-year-old could be a crucial member of the squad should he choose to go Chloorkop because his former Pirates’ partner is there.
Since his departure to Europe, Jali has improved his attacking game, but he's still best suited as a central defender. He's more than capable of going forward with or without the ball and scores some vital goals as well.
Jali formed a deadly partnership with Manyisa, and heading to Sundowns could provide Mosimane with an opportunity to use the two players as partners in the middle of the park.
In the heart of the park, Jali could work shoulder to shoulder with Manyisa and Hlompho Kekana whenever Mosimane decides to rest either Tiyani Mabunda or Lucky Mohomi.
With Mabunda having formed a special bond with his skipper, it would be wise for Mosimane to revive the chemistry between Jali and Manyisa to ensure that they move forward and create a smooth link up with the attacking players.
Having Kekana in midfield alongside Jali and Manyisa could help the two former Pirates players to quickly understand how Sundowns play as the skipper has been the heart and soul of Mosimane's team over the years.
4-1-4-1 FORMATION
Goal
In a different approach, the man who said he didn't play his best football at Pirates until his move to Europe, can also help Sundowns in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
Kekana is already on the wrong side of 30, and perhaps Mosimane wants to rest him more going into the new.
If this is the case, then it would make perfect sense for Jali to occupy Kekana's role, and provide protection to the Sundowns back four.
While Jali could be deployed in a much deeper role, that doesn't mean he would be stagnant and therefore cannot move forward and score those crucial goals or he can play just in front of Mabunda as indicated in the graphic above.
After all, Sundowns wouldn't sign Jali to score goals for them, but to stabilize their midfield.
Based on this formation and the opponent, the likes of Thapelo Morena and Tebogo Langerman can push forward and the numbers upfront knowing that Jali, Mabunda or Manyisa would still provide cover the same way Kekana has been doing over the years.
This tactic could be the best for the Brazilians as they usually crowd the opponent when they lose possession and that has helped them to regain it quickly based on their numbers and quality in the middle of the park.
