Roar eye double swoop with Lokolingoy, Tongyik in sights

Brisbane Roar are set to boost their A-League squad with the addition of a new striker and defender.

Ruon Tongyik has been linked with a move to Brisbane Roar Source: Getty Images

The World Game understands the Roar are keen to land former Sydney FC forward Charles Lokolingoy and ex-Western Sydney Wanderers centre-back Ruon Tongyik.

Both were born in Africa and moved to Australia as children, and will give Brisbane greater depth in attack and defence.

Tongyik joined the Wanderers last year after two seasons with Melbourne City. Born in South Sudan, he migrated to Australia as a six-year-old and grew up in Adelaide.

The defender came through Adelaide United’s youth ranks and left to sign for City in 2016, making his A-League debut for the club in December that year. He played three times for the Olyroos in 2017.

After just two appearances for Western Sydney this season, Tongyik was released on January 1. The defender will replace Greece centre-back Avram Papadopoulos, who left the Roar by mutual consent at the start of this week.

Lokolingoy is a 21-year-old striker who was released by the Sky Blues on Thursday. The striker, who was born in Kinshasa, moved down under at the age of 11 and played his youth football for the Sutherland Sharks.

Lokolingoy debuted in the A-League in 2017 but found first-team opportunities rare at Sydney FC, making only 13 appearances in the past two seasons.

The striker may replace Adam Taggart, who has been linked to a move to Korea according to reports. Taggart still has a year-and-a-half to run on his contract at Brisbane after joining the club from Perth Glory at the start of the season.

The Roar have endured a disastrous 2018-2019 campaign with just one win from 16 A-League matches. They sit second from bottom on the table and at the end of December head coach John Aloisi quit the club.

Darren Davies has been interim coach since Aloisi’s departure but has yet to notch a win in seven matches in charge.