Lyngdoh, Anas set to be top picks in ISL players draft

Ten franchise sides, including the two new entrants of Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC, will seek to buy the best Indians on offer for the ISL season four which will be starting in November as a five-month long league. 

Top players like Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, C K Vineeth and Sandesh Jhingan will not be up for grabs as they have been retained by their respective clubs. Chhetri and Udanta have been retained by Bengaluru while 2015 edition winners Chennaiyin FC decided to keep Jeje with them this season also. 

India’s defensive bulwark Jhingan and his national teammate forward Vineeth will continue to play for 2016 runners-up side Kerala Blasters. The clubs were allowed to retain a maximum of two senior players from their 2016 squad, in addition to up to three U-21 players to fill up the development player quota. Eight teams have already signed up 22 domestic players, while Delhi Dynamos have opted to begin on a fresh note. 

Both Lyngdoh and Anas, who were released by FC Pune City and Delhi Daynamos respectively, have been kept at the base price of ₹ 1.10 crore each. Other players in the top price bracket include goalkeeper Subrata Paul (Rs. 87 lakhs), Pritam Kotal Rs. 75 lakhs), Robin Singh Rs. 65 lakhs) and Arindam Bhattacharya Rs. 64 lakhs). 

Chennaiyin FC: Retained: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Karanjit Singh (both senior); Jerry Lalrinzuala, Anirudh Thapa (both U—21). No. of players to be picked: Min 12; Entry: Fourth round.