Fashion Sakala heading to the UK as he turns down contract extension
Zambian international Fashion Sakala, 23 is set to leave Belgium side Oostende this summer his handlers have told the ZamFoot Crew in Lusaka.
The former Nchanga Rangers and Zanaco winger cum striker has been in scintillating form this season in the Belgian Jupiter Pro League.
The boy from Kum’awa has scored 13 goals in 23 appearance for Oostende which has attracted interest from Steven Gerald’s Glasgow Rangers, West Ham United and Newcastle United.
With his contract running out in the summer, the Chipolopolo forward is free to sign a pre-contract with any of his suitors.
“Yes, it’s true Fashion [Sakala] will be a free agent in the summer,†One of his handlers told the ZamFoot Crew in Lusaka
“At the moment he is an Oostende player and wants to help the club qualify for Europe.
“Just like any player his dream is to reach the highest level and having grown up watching EPL [English Premier League], he will definitely consider that.
LIEGE, BELGIUM – JANUARY 24 : Mergim Vojvoda defender of Standard Liege battles for the ball with Junior Fashion Sakala forward of KV Oostende during the Jupiler Pro League match between Standard Liege and KV Oostende on January 24, 2020 in Liege, Belgium, 24/01/2020 ( Photo by Peter De Voecht / Photonews
Earlier in the season, Oostende sporting director Gauthier Ganaye was upset with Sakala’s management team.
He told the club website: “We have made three to four offers since last summer.
“Fortunately, Fashion is in Oostende and I am convinced that he can take further steps under [manager] Alexander Blessin.
“I feel that his agent is not really respecting KV Oostende as he is no longer responding to our offers.â€
Sakala, who joined the Belgian side from Russian side Spartak Moscow is one of the hottest players in the league.
The Chipolopolo forward has scored scored 8 goals in 10 appearances since the turn of the year.
Last season he scored 8 goals for Oostende.
He trekked to Russia after impressing at the 2016 Cosafa Cup U20 in South Africa in December.
In the last two transfer windows, Sakala with compatriots Patson Daka and Enoch Mwepu have all been linked with moves to England.
The trio have rose through the ranks having been spotted from the Airtel Rising Star to the Chris Kaunda coached Zambia Under-17.
They then graduated to the Zambia Under-20 which was coached by Beston Chambeshi. The ‘Dream Team’ claimed the 2017 CAF Under-20 on home soil before reaching the quarter finals in Korea later that year.
In Belgian, Fashion Sakala plays as a lone striker while for Zambia, he is usually deployed as a left winger
While Daka and Mwepu have cemented their places in the Chipolopolo, the jury is still out their for Sakala.
Chipolopolo Boys coach Micho will hope Sakala will transfer his club form to international as Zambia face Zimbabwe and Algeria in back to back African Cup of Nations qualifiers.