KUBERA MOVE TO LUBLIN ON HOLD?

Polish shooting star Dominik Kubera could see his move to Lublin put on hold as the club faces paying a training fee to his boyhood team Leszno.

Kubera’s switch to Lublin was widely reported in the closing weeks of the season, before the deal was officially announced by the Goats.

But he may now be forced to sit out the opening three rounds of the 2021 PGE Ekstraliga season as Lublin would have had to pay a training fee to the Bulls if Kubera signed his contract before the end of the November transfer window. This is because the 21-year-old is still classed as a junior until the end of this year.

Unless a training fee is agreed between the teams and Lublin pays a fine for registering the rider late, they must now wait until the PGE Ekstraliga transfer window opens on April 19 to complete the deal.

This would rule Kubera out of Lublin’s opening three meetings, but the club could then avoid paying the fee.

There are reports the bill could be as much as 800,000 PLN (around £162,000), but Lublin could negotiate with Leszno to bring this down significantly.

Joint owner of Leszno, Josef Dworakowski, says no talks have taken place. He told Przeglad Sportowy: “Nobody from Lublin even called me. I contacted the club's employees two days ago and to my knowledge they did not receive any phone calls. If they called, we would definitely talk.”

Every PGE Ekstraliga side must track an under-24 rider in their top five next season, which made the talented Kubera a man in demand.

As well as an attractive financial offer from Lublin, it’s believed his indifferent home form prompted him to leave the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium, despite helping Leszno to their fourth straight league title in 2020.

Photo: Taylor Lanning