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Chennai Football Club is all set to sign Kerala Blasters midfielder Ayush Adhikari to bolster their midfield ahead of the 2023-24 Indian Premier League (ISL) season.
sportskeeda She realizes that Adhikari has agreed personal terms with Marina Machans. And while the papers are yet to be signed, it looks like he will become India’s eighth signing of the summer.
The club has already brought in goalkeeper Prateik Kumar Singh, Swedish striker Fernandes, Irfan Yadwad and Farrukh Chaudhry and defenders Ankit Mukherjee, Sashu Sippy and Bijay Chhetri.
Adhikari still has a year left on his Kerala Blasters contract. While some sources have suggested that Chennaiyin might sign him on a free transfer, there is still no official confirmation on how the deal will be structured.
The 22-year-old will arrive at the Marina Arena after three seasons with the Tuskers first team. Adhikari was eventually part of their reserve team and left them on a free transfer to spend the second half of the 2019-20 season with Indian Arrows FC.
Kerala re-signed him in August 2020. Since then, he has played 30 times across competitions for the Blasters, largely being deployed as a defensive midfielder. Although he did not score a goal or assist, Adhikari received praise for his composure and progression of the ball.
He could remarkably become Chennaiyin FC’s first signing since they officially announced the return of Owen Coyle to the sidelines on a multi-year deal earlier this week.
Chennaiyin are also close to signing striker Connor Shields
Chennaiyin FC notably left all six members of their foreign squad from last season. They’ve made a flurry of signings this summer, but Jordan Murray has been the only overseas signing so far.
The Australian, who won the ISL Shield title with Jamshedpur FC under Owen Coyle during the 2021-22 season, is expected to lead their attack. Coyle said sportskeeda He played a key role in the club signing both Murray and Farrukh Chaudhary, under whom he also played for Jamshedpur.
It now looks like Marina Machan’s side are ready to make their second foreign signing of the season. According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Motherwells FC striker Conor Shields has agreed a one-year deal with Chennai. Joseph added that the transfer could be completed within the next 24 hours.
Shields, 25, has endured a tough 2022-23 campaign, scoring just five goals and four assists in 40 games combined for Motherwell and Queens Park F.C. Private joined QPR on loan in January and played under Coyle, scoring five times in 14 Scottish Championship matches.
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