DANNY WILSON TO DEPART GLASGOW FOR MLS
The Scottish Sun was the first to report that experienced Scottish defender Danny Wilson is to leave the Glaswegian club to join Colorado Rapids. Other British media outlets have picked up on the story, which centres around Wilson joining Anthony Hudson’s renovation project.
Rangers manager Graeme Murty has subsequently revealed that the centre back has flown out to the United States to undergo a medical examination for Colorado and negotiate contract terms.
A former Scottish youth international with a handful of caps at senior level as well, Wilson can also play left back and is reportedly in the final months of his current contract, which is set to expire in the summer. He rose through Rangers’ youth system before transferring to Liverpool in 2010 in a deal reported at upwards of £2 million.
Entering their first year under Hudson, Colorado have made moves this winter, acquiring more than half a dozen new players including defenders Deklan Wynne, Edgar Castillo, Kip Colvey and Tommy Smith and reportedly preparing to shift to a 3-5-2 formation.
ESCAPING THE COUNTRY TO MEXICO
Already this winter Giles Barnes and Landon Donovan have been among the surprise imports to Liga MX, the next according to reporter Elmer Polanco could be Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore.
Polanco explained that Liga MX giant Club América are potentially looking for another scorer, and if options in South America don’t ultimately pan out, the Mexico City club may swoop in for the US international.
Altidore, 28, joined Toronto FC in 2015, on a transfer from then-Premier League (and future League One) side Sunderland. In three seasons with the Canadian club, Altidore has scored 38 goals in 75 MLS regular season appearances, as well as seven goals in 11 MLS Cup Playoffs appearances. He helped TFC win a historic treble in 2017, capped off with the 2017 MLS Cup MVP award after scoring the winning goal in the MLS Cup final.
MIX DISKERUD TO MANCHESTER CITY
US international and former New York City FC midfielder Mix Diskerud signed a multi-year contract with Manchester City over the weekend, but there appears to be little chance of him seeing action for Pep Guardiola’s runaway English Premier League leaders, according to multiple reports.
Citing ‘anonymous’ ‘sources’ with ‘knowledge’ of the ‘situation’ (Rundown is sporting a straight face), ESPNFC’s Jeff Carlisle reports that Diskerud “will not train with City’s first team, nor will he be loaned out to another City Football Group affiliate” and that he “would train with the club’s reserves but is not expected to ever play in a game” for the Manchester side, with a loan move to another team to be arranged in the near future.
British-based journalists made similar reports, noting that CFG, parent company of Manchester City, NYCFC and several other affiliated clubs around the globe, could help the Norwegian-American playmaker stay fit and line up a new destination, whether a loan or a permanent sale elsewhere.
One of NYCFC’s showcase acquisitions ahead of their 2015 MLS expansion debut, Diskerud scored the first goal in franchise history in their first match. He was sent to Sweden’s IFK Goteborg on a year-long loan last season, with New York City buying out his MLS contract to clear him off their 2017 salary budget. Diskerud scored five goals in 29 appearances on loan as IFK finished midtable in the Allsvenskan.
HOMEGROWN THE WAY FOR SAN JOSE
San Jose Earthquakes’ youth movement continues, as they have announced the signing of midfielder Gilbert Fuentes to a Homegrown Player contract. Fuentes, 15, is the youngest signing in Earthquakes history and is the second-youngest player in MLS at the moment, behind Sporting KC’s Gianluca Busio.
“Signing Gilbert to a Homegrown contract was a priority for us and I would like to thank the Fuentes family, agent Rob Moore, MLS and our entire staff in the youth development area for their commitment to get this done,” said Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli in a club statement. “At just 15 years old, he has quickly separated himself from his peers thanks to a strong technical ability and high soccer IQ, which has garnered the attention of the U.S. Soccer Federation.”
Fuentes, a native of Tracy, California, joined the Earthquakes academy in 2016. This season, he has been playing for the U-19 academy team, playing well above his U-17 eligibility. He also featured for the US national team U-15 squad at the 2017 CONCACAF U-15 Championship, and was called up to the US U-17s for November’s Nike International Friendlies as well as January’s Youth National Team Summit Camp.
The addition of the midfielder marks the third Earthquakes Homegrown signing for the 2018 season, joining goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski and defender Jacob Akanyirige, who signed as a 15-year-old before recently turning 16. Fuentes and Akanyirige are the youngest pair of current teammates in MLS and second-youngest pair all-time.
Any Other Business…
Portland Timbers are out of the running for Columbus Crew SC midfielder Justin Meram, sources have told ESPN FC… Ben Sweat has signed a new contract with New York City FC… Argentine journalist Cesar Luis Merlo claim that Toronto FC have made a multi-million dollar offer for midfielder Alexis Mac Allister… Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Matias Laba has signed a contract with Argentine side Estudiantes de la Plata, officially calling time on his stint in British Columbia.