SAAD DAY FOR KANSAS CITY
Rundown doesn’t care what you think, it was worth bumping this story up to the top position to use the headline.
Sporting Kansas City have waived Soony Saad, ending the Lebanese-American midfielder’s second stint at Children’s Mercy Park. Saad had returned to MLS in 2017 following two years playing in Thailand. He previously contributed for SKC from 2011-2014, but in his return struggled to find his way back into regular action, making only 12 league appearances and six starts.
Sporting had tried to deal Saad to another MLS club but couldn’t, according to the Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell. Saad, 25, entered MLS after one collegiate season at Michigan. He enjoyed his best league campaign in 2013, when he scored four goals and added four assists over 23 appearances.
In total, Saad has made 70 appearances and 32 starts over five MLS seasons, scoring eight goals and adding seven assists.
BREK SHEA NO LONGER DESIGNATED
Vancouver Whitecaps have paved the way for signing one of Yohan Mollo, Jordon Mutch or Club America striker Darwin Quintero by using allocation money to buy down Brek Shea’s contract to free up a Designated Player spot in their squad.
Coach Carl Robinson revealed the news to local sports radio station TSN 1040.
Rundown is naturally the most qualified person to give a technical explanation regarding Designated Players, given that its colleague here at MLSfootball.com Craig Shuman (@CraigShumanMLS) is unavailable at short notice. Teams are allowed a maximum of three Designated Players – which consists of players whose total compensation and acquisition costs exceed the maximum budget charge ($504,375 in 2018), with the club bearing financial responsibility for the amount of compensation above each player’s budget charge. Hope you understood that.
RAPIDS ASSEMBLE BEST GOALKEEPING UNIT IN MLS
Colorado Rapids have traded for goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra from Sporting Kansas City with City receiving Colorado’s natural second-round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft in return.
“Andrew provides us with important depth at the goalkeeping position,” said Rapids Executive VP and general manager Padraig Smith in a club statement. “Alongside Tim Howard and Zac MacMath, Andrew joins one of the very best goalkeeping units in Major League Soccer and we look forward to welcoming him to Colorado.”
The deal provides the Rapids with additional goalkeeping depth behind Howard, the incumbent starter; Dykstra has been added to the team’s supplemental roster for the time being.
Dykstra, 32, joined Sporting KC ahead of the 2017 season following several seasons with D.C. United, where he served as Bill Hamid’s understudy. Dykstra appeared in SKC’s last four regular-season matches of the year after Tim Melia sustained an injury, then made his career postseason debut as Sporting faced the Houston Dynamo in the Knockout Round of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
KC suffered a 1-0 extra-time loss to the Dynamo, though Dykstra enhanced his reputation with four saves and a late penalty stop.
ABASS COULD BECOME CREW MEMBER
Columbus Crew SC have found success in signing Ghanaian players over the years, and a new report suggests another may be on the way. Slovenian outlet Nogo Mania suggests that Crew SC are prepared to make an offer for striker Issah Abass, currently playing for Olimpija Ljubljana.
Abass, 19, joined Olimpija last year and made his professional debut there. In 21 games across two seasons to date, he’s scored seven goals in the Slovenian top flight, and has also played in Europa League qualifying for the club.
If Abass did join Columbus, he would be joined there by compatriots Jonathan Mensah, Harrison Afful, Lalas Abubakar and Mohammed Abu.
Any Other Business…
Portland Timbers have used Targeted Allocation Money to sign forward Samuel Armenteros from Serie A side Benevento Calcio on a season-long loan with an option to buy… Add Toronto FC to the teams interested in Darwin Quintero, according to AS USA they are offering $5 million… Atlanta United’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Orlando City SC’s Orlando City Stadium are both on the list of 27 finalists in the annual StadiumDB.com competition to christen the best stadium opened around the globe in 2017.
