BENNI McCarthy could be lost to South African football again as he enters the final six months of his contract with Orlando Pirates.

McCarthy is free to talk to other clubs in January for the 2013-14 season and his representatives have hinted that he may seek "one more adventure" before the end of his career.

There is interest in his services from Major League Soccer in the US, as well as China, while Times Media understands that both Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns are eagerly following his situation.

But there also remains the possibility he will stay at Pirates beyond his current two-year deal, though as yet the Buccaneers have not spoken to him about a new contract.

"We want to finalise Benni's future in January one way or the other," his business manager Rob Moore said. "He is keeping a very open mind about where he will be playing next season. He is happy at Pirates and wants to hear what their plans are for him, but as yet they have not made any overtures about a new contract.

"At this stage we cannot rule anything out, a move to the USA or China is certainly a possibility and there is a lot of interest from within South Africa too. Everybody knows that he is free to talk to any club from January onwards as per Fifa rules, so other teams are adopting a wait-and-see attitude."

Pressed on whether McCarthy was eager to stay at Mayfair, Moore reiterated that the 35-year-old was open to all possibilities.

"I cannot rule out that Benni will seek one more adventure somewhere else. He has achieved a lot in his career and won trophies now with Pirates too but no discussions with any parties have taken place yet."

McCarthy has only just returned from three months on the sidelines following a hamstring injury picked up while on national team duty with Bafana Bafana in Brazil in early September.

He is now pushing for a place in Gordon Igesund's 2013 Africa Cup of Nations squad and has two more games to prove his form and fitness - away at Maritzburg United on Friday and at Lamontville Golden Arrows on December 19.

Eyebrows were raised when Pirates brought McCarthy back to the PSL ahead of the 2011-12 season, but the move has been a success, with the veteran forward netting 13 goals in all competitions as he helped Bucs to a trio of titles, including the league championship.