N.P. Pradeep has been the exception so far, the only international among five in Mahindra United's ranks not attached to any I-League club.
He is among the 30 in the Indian men's probables list announced by AIFF for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup football championship and is learnt to be weighing the merits of working his way back to fitness under India coach Bob Houghton and plans to make his move after the Qatar tournament.
The Kerala-born player has offers from clubs in Goa and Kolkata at this point. Mahindra United coach David Booth agrees with Pradeep's reasoning. “I feel he is doing the right thing by remaining free from any contract commitment so that winning a place on the Indian squad can be priority.
“Pradeep is a fine player when in form and will be better placed to negotiate after the Asian Cup with interested clubs who would have seen him perform.”
Clubs are busy
Leading clubs in I-League 2010 before Friday's concluding rounds — Dempo SC, Pune FC, Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan — are already busy snapping up the Mumbai team players before Mahindra United closes down owing to a management decision.
Mahindra United was on top of the 24-team table when the Mahindra bosses pulled the plug, leaving the players to negotiate next season contracts on current form and reputation.
Debrabrata Roy signed up for I-League champion Dempo, Pune FC recruited Paresh Shivalkar and is in talks with captain K. Ajayan, for whom Dempo is an option.
Ali for Bagan
Internationals Mohammed Rafi and Steven Dias will wear Churchill Brothers colours next season after the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Foreign striker Muritala Ali signed up for Bagan.
Churchill Brothers was successful in snaring two crowd-pullers of Indian football, striker Rafi and playmaker Steven, for lucrative 16-month contracts.
The Kerala-based forward and Mumbai-based teammate will be making their Goan league debut, teaming up with sensational Churchill goal-scorer and captain Odafa Okolie.
Dempo's defence options increase with the addition of Debabrata, a tireless and skilful wingback.
India senior goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Choudhary and India youth team captain Sushil Singh are heading for East Bengal.
Sushanth Mathew, a percentage player in defence or midfield, is also in talks with East Bengal.
Salgaocar SC is eyeing four players — Thoi Singh, Kali Aleeudin, Monotosh Das and Sukwinder Singh — as part of the rebuilding effort under coach Karim Bencherifa.
Justine Stephen is slated to join Chirag United and will be seen in action with former MU teammates in the Kolkata league.
ONGC, promoted to the I-League next season, is in talks with a couple of MU players. Serbian midfielder Svetozar Mijn and Senegal's Lamine Tamba, two other foreigners in the Mumbai I-League team, have gone home.
