It’s the million dollar question playing in every Sarawak FA fans head right now.
Junior Eldstal(photo) has just shown Malaysians what he can do, and people are turning their heads to take notice of a player which Sarawak FA signed last April.
Tonight, in the Merdeka Cup, Junior sealed his impressive display in the tournament with a calmly slotted goal which adds to his double assist for the nations under-23 team, known as the Harimau Muda.
Rumours are indeed high that cash rich Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) is very keen to sign Junior for next season and they are more than capable to do so, especially after signing Spanish international Pablo Aimar recently.
Two more peninsular based teams are said to be interested, but fact sheets say that JDT has the upper hand due to purchasing power, and the fact that it is filled with Malaysia’s best players.
The other two teams which are keen to sign Junior are realistically as good as Sarawak FA financially and ambitiously, hence making it more likely for Junior to stay with the Crocs. This is of course unless troubled Sabah FA decides to tempt Junior to return home to Sabah, but such move is highly unlikely with Sabah FA now troubled with management problems.
Junior has until now, not openly stressed his desire to stay with the Crocs and there is little known about his attachment tenure with the Premier League champions, although it was said during the April transfer window that Sarawak would only sign both Muamer Salibasic and Junior under a short term deal.
If true, it looks like the time has come for Sarawak FA to re-negotiate Junior’s contract to ensure he continues his trade with the Crocs, but everyone knows that Sarawak is in no position to beat JDT when it comes to cash flow.
That said, it would be up to Junior to choose his path when this season ends, and a move to JDT or any other team, except Sabah, would be highly be seen as unpopular and an act of betrayal to the Sarawak fans whom see Junior as a player who was found by the team.
As a biased football site, Sarawak Crocs hopes that Junior will not be too demanding in the contract negotiations with FAS, and that he would remain here, with Sarawak.
//Photo by Ahmad Aki
