Maritzburg United are in talks with clubs from Russia and Saudia Arabia regarding the services of Ghana international Mohammed Awal.

Recent reports from Ghana have claimed Awal is heading to Orlando Pirates, but Maritzburg chairman Farook Kadodia insists they have not fielded any local offers for the defender.

Kadodia also confirmed United have exercised a two-year option on Awal’s contract.

“We have exercised the two-year option that we had on his contract and after June, 2015 he will still have another two years on his contract,” Kadodia tells KickOff.com.

“There has been absolutely no approach whatsoever from a South African club and I can reveal that the only clubs that we are talking to about Awal are from Russia and Saudi Arabia.

“We have been formally approached by those clubs and we are in negotiations with them… one of them wants him now while the other is talking about July.

“If Pirates are interested in the player they should be approaching us,” says Kadodia.

Awal, who is into his third season with Maritzburg, is currently in Equatorial Guinea with the Black Stars for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.