KHAMA Billiat’s expected return to Mamelodi Sundowns moved a step closer after it emerged yesterday that it was actually the Kaizer Chiefs midfielder who approached the Brazilians about returning to Chloorkop.

A highly placed insider at Sundowns told TimesLive yesterday that a deal is imminent as coach Pitso Mosimane also wants the player back.

“The way things are at the moment‚ he (Billiat) is not entirely happy at Chiefs and wants to return to Sundowns. But he has a contract with Chiefs and that is what is going to complicate things here.”

The insider said he expects Chiefs to do everything in their power to hold onto the player to avoid the embarrassment of losing a key member of their squad to opponents, and so close to the start of the new PSL season.

“Chiefs will not want to lose him at this critical stage as they are rebuilding the team‚“ the insider continued.

“Their fans won’t be happy to see their best player of last season leave for rivals. There are financial figures that have been thrown around and at the end of the day the two clubs will have to find each other if a deal is to be concluded.”

Chiefs’ communications manager Vina Maphosa said they have observed the mounting speculation around Billiat with keen interest and they reject any attempts to undermine the side.

“Khama is a Kaizer Chiefs player and we are watching the media and social media speculation‚“ he said.

“We condemn anything that seeks to destabilise the team with the contempt it deserves. If there is or are players movements‚ they will come from Kaizer Chiefs and at the moment there is no such.”State media