MAMELODI Sundowns are bracing themselves for a legal battle with want-away striker Edward Manqele, whose salary they continue to pay despite chasing him out of their training base in Chloorkop recently for failing to lose weight.

The saga, which took an ugly twist when the player's 12-month loan to Chippa United collapsed last month, is now in the hands of his lawyers, according to his agent, Josiah Mphono. Manqele's contract with Sundowns expires in June next year.

"It was made clear by the Sundowns technical team that Manqele would not be in their plans this season, hence we tried to arrange another loan deal to Chippa even though the player wasn't too keen. We were told that he could not play for them because Chippa had exceeded their loan quota, which we later found out that Sundowns knew about, but kept from us," said Mphono.

"Our first priority is to try and get the player training again. This has to happen with Sundowns because they still pay his salary and he is their player until the end of the season. Our lawyers are meeting with theirs to work this out, but if all fails, we will demand that the player be released from his contract."

Manqele has admitted that he was forced to join Sundowns by his former club Free State Stars two years ago. He would have preferred to go to Kaizer Chiefs, he said. Amakhosi looked to revive his career in January and were prepared to buy him out for R2-million.

"But Sundowns again complicated that move," Mphono claimed, adding that Manqele is free to sign a pre-contract with a club of his choice in the next transfer window.

Downs technical director Mike Ntombela admitted the player was ruled out of making coach Pitso Mosimane's team this season. He referred further questions to Sundowns legal guru Yogesh Singh, who refused to comment.