Exclusive: Mumbai City set to sign Rowlin Borges and Sarthak Golui

Elsewhere, the Islanders' defender Joyner Lourenco is in talks to join Jamshedpur FC.

Mumbai City have already started strengthening their squad for the next season with a couple of signings already to be penned down by the Islanders. The semi-finalists of the recently concluded fifth season of the Indian Super League have gotten deals nearly completed for Rowlin Borges and Sarthak Golui while a deal to land Joyner Lourenco at Jamshedpur is in the talks.

NorthEast United's star player of the season Rowlin Borges is set to complete a move from the Highlanders to another semi-finalist of the recently concluded season of the ISL. Mumbai beat the likes of FC Goa for getting the 26-year-old midfielder to join their ranks after the Gaurs were said to be competing with their semi-final opponents for the Indian international.

Rowlin Borges had an impactful season for the Highlanders, being one of the only five scorers for them this season. The midfielder has scored four goals and assisted another two, ending him one of the best returns for an Indian midfielder in ISL. The ex-Highlander star would be competing with the likes of Sehnaj Singh, Milan Singh and Raynier Fernandes to feature in the midfield that has club captain Paulo Machado as the mainstay.

Meanwhile, defensive stalwart Sarthak Golui is to join FC Pune City's direct rivals to solve the issues at the back prevalent during the absence of Subhasish Bose. The youngster, with the ability to play as a centre-back and as a full-back, would give more competition to the likes of Souvik Chakrabarti, who have had a difficult season.

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Sarthak ever since breaking into the scenes under Ranko Popovic has been a mainstay in the Pune defence, playing as a right side-back for them in a defence line of three. He has already represented the national team at the SAFF Cup and was in the squad for the AFC Asian Cup.

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With Sarthak coming in, Mumbai are now looking to let Joyner go with the Mumbaikar rumoured to be joining Jamshedpur FC. With Subhasish back to his left-back position just after a couple of games in the season, Joyner managed to rack up a place for himself in the Islanders defensive lineup, and fairly so.

But the former Bengaluru FC reserves defender is said to be looking to join the Men of Steel for the upcoming 2019-20 season.