In-form Western United striker Noah Botic wanted by a host of clubs

One of the A-League’s most talented strikers is being chased by a host of overseas clubs.

Western United is facing a tough battle to keep Noah Botic beyond this season, with the in-form striker’s services in demand from rival A-League clubs and a host of overseas outfits.

Botic is in superb touch heading into United’s battle with A-League leaders Auckland FC at Ironbark Fields on Saturday night, having scored five goals in his past four games.

Despite speculation he would be sold in the January-February transfer window after fielding offers from clubs in England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Turkey and Slovenia, the 23-year-old marksman is set to remain at United until his contract expires at the end of the season.

After that, an overseas move seems likely.

However, United coach John Aloisi, who is in talks with club officials about his own future beyond this season, remains hopeful of keeping Botic at the club at least until the end of the 2025-26 A-League campaign.

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 ✨

Noah Botic moves to second in our all-time goal scorers… could he add to his tally this weekend against Auckland? 👀

Get your tickets now 🫵 https://t.co/sLh7rk5NGvpic.twitter.com/gsmIXwTe4J

— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) February 13, 2025

“I know there was a lot of talk about a few clubs coming in for him,” Aloisi said.

“I spoke to him a couple of times about just focusing on what he’s doing here, and the other stuff will play out as part of being a professional footballer, as part of being a striker that’s in form, you are going to get clubs that are interested.

‘We would love to have him sign on. I still have the belief that Noah having a good year this season, and then next, and then hopefully going to (the 2026 FIFA) World Cup with the Socceroos.

“Then that would be a great time for him to then make that next step overseas … (but) he has to make decisions with his family about when he feels is the right time (to move).

“At the moment, he’s just got to be fully focused on playing week in, week out with us and trying to keep his form up and improving all the time, which has always been his way of being, and his way of playing and training.”

Botic’s presence at United until the end of the season is a huge boost to the club’s title hopes.

United’s championship credentials will be further solidified with a win over Auckland this weekend.

Aloisi’s men having already beaten the Black Knights this season, thrashing the previously unbeaten Auckland 4-0 at Go Media Stadium in December.

John Aloisi’s Western United team is chasing another win over Auckland FC. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

“Four-nil sounds like we were unbelievable. We were good, but it was a hard game,” Aloisi said.

“It was wasn’t an easy game, and we had to make sure that, first of all, from the very start, that we matched them in competing and with intensity.

“They’ve got very physical players that are strong, that can ask a lot of questions of you in terms of getting balls into the box. They get a lot of crosses into the box. They can play direct at times, but also have the ability to play through you with the quality they have.

“Defensively they can be tough to break down, so we focused (in the 4-0 win) really a lot on making sure that we stop the delivery into the box.

“We focused on always having pressure on the ball, and then with the ball, we wanted to play quickly forward, like we’ve been doing in most games.

“If we can do that again, we’re confident we can get the result again, but we know it will be a tough game.”

Originally published as In-form Western United striker Noah Botic wanted by a host of clubs