Kaizer Chiefs are under pressure to give new head coach Nasreddine Nabi the tools he requires, but would a fourth big transfer attempt fall through?
Nabi's arrival at Chiefs was delayed after his commitments with AS FAR stretched well into the off-season, before finally joining midway into pre-season.
However, the Tunisian-Belgian has been thorough and specific with the players he wants Amakhosi to sign ahead of the 2024/25 season.
READ: Sundowns misjudge rules in Onyango, red-card dilemma?
The priority list of targeted signings included, among others, in particular Elias Mokwana, Oswin Appollis, a left-footed centre-back, left-back, winger and strikers.
The Glamour Boys submitted official offers for Mokwana, which were rejected, and had the same outcome in bids to acquire Appollis.
After not getting the Rise and Shine winger, Chiefs shifted their attention to Cape Town Spurs attacker Asanele Velebayi.
However, the Urban Warriors have also rejected their offers, despite the player being keen to make the Naturena Village his new home.
Asked if the 21-year-old is willing to join the Soweto giants, Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou said, "Yes," in an interview on Metro FM.
Nabi came out to say, in an interview on SuperSport TV, that PSL teams don't want to make transfer business with Amakhosi and Efstathiou, who confirmed the negotiations have reached a deadlock, was also asked if Velebayi has been priced fairly.
"We feel we priced him fairly," he said.
"Since we declined the offer, we have heard nothing back, so I can't say it's ongoing.
"They know what we're asking for. I would say it's not close to what we were asking."
READ | JUST IN: Two big surprises as MTN8 semis confirmed
In the striking department, Chiefs came close to signing Khanyisa Mayo in the current transfer window, before they were outbid by Algerian side CR Belouizdad, as confirmed by his agent Basia Michaels on Metro FM.
In solving the centre-back issue, the club is understood to have agreed a deal with Petro de Luanda for Inacio Miguel, a position that is of concern for Nabi.
As the club struggles to pin down local targets recommended by the Tunisian mentor, they will be under pressure themselves to hold the 59-year-old completely responsible for results, if they can't get him the tools he requires.