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What’s the story?
In a bid to add firepower to their already strong squad, ISL club FC Goa are planning to sign Aizawl FC left winger H. Lalmuankima in the January transfer window.
In case you didn’t know
FC Goa currently occupy the fifth position on the table, having played two games less than the top four teams. The Goan club has been lethal in their attacking department as they have managed to find the back of the net on 18 occasions, the most by any team in the league.
As this ISL season is longer than the previous three, the teams will get the help of the winter transfer window to bring in reinforcements and strengthen their squad.
The heart of the matter
Lalmuankima was part of the historic Aizawl FC squad which won the 2016-17 I-League season, trumping big clubs like Bengaluru FC, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
FC Goa are in advance talks with the winger and look set to sign him once the transfer window opens on January 15, according to a source close to the player.
What’s next?
Lalmuankima has been a regular member of the Aizawl squad, which is plying its trade in the 2017-18 I-League season. He is in good shape having had game time under his belt.
Although Lalmuankima has scored only one goal during his entire stint at Aizawl, he was instrumental in setting up goal-scoring opportunities for the strikers on numerous occasions. FC Goa’s tactics of playing fast-paced football will only be bolstered by this addition to their squad.
Author’s take
If FC Goa finally manage to sign Lalmuankima, this will be the first instance that an active I-League player would shift to ISL in the middle of a season. The man from Mizoram has to adjust with FC Goa’s style of play as quickly as possible, but three years in the top tier of Indian football will stand him in good stead to get settled in the new environment.
