BALLACK CLOSING IN ON MONTREAL MOVE?: The Impact have been linked with a litany of big names ahead of their inaugural MLS campaign, and it seems they may have finally found their centerpiece. The Washington Post's Steve Goff reported via Twitter on Thursday that one source told him that there was a "90 percent chance" that German legend Michael Ballack's proposed move to Quebec would come off. Of course, Goff also cautioned against taking reports at face value, meaning this one could go either way. (@SoccerInsider - January 19, 2012)
COLOMBIANS GALORE: Liga Postobón players seem to have found their preferred destination abroad: MLS. Yet another Colombiano has been linked with the league, as ESPN.com is reporting that 30-year-old center back John Alexander Valencia is close to completing a move to Chivas USA. (ESPN.com - January 13, 2012)
UH-OH: Numerous media reports out of England are saying that Thierry Henry is undergoing scans in order to figure out what's gone wrong with his troublesome calf. The New York Red Bulls superstar apparently suffered an injury during a training session on Tuesday while on loan at Arsenal. (BigAppleSoccer.com - January 18, 2012)
ADIEU LE TOUX?:FoxSoccer.com broke news this morning of a potential transfer of Philadelphia Union forward Sébastien LeToux to English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers. It's the same team that is home to ex-Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden and they're also hoping to land Red Bulls defender Tim Ream in a separate deal. The Union confirm that Le Toux is in England and the player made it public himself via Twitter. Stay tuned for more updates. (January 18, 2012)
SCORER FOR HIRE: Reports out of Israel have MLS all-time leading scorer Jeff Cunningham in negotiations with Hapoel Petah Tikva, who are seeking attacking help in the winter transfer window. The club is still figuring out if it has the budget to make it happen, in which case the article says that Cunningham would head over there for a trial next week. (Walla!Sport - January 18, 2012)
THE ROCK IN THE NET: This one slipped through the net (!), but it seems that former US international keeper Marcus Hahnemann, a renowned heavy metal fan, is taking the logical step from the field to the studio. Today, he is recording a track with British band MALEFICE. (Oh yeah, the RC headbangs now and then.) (Metal4All.com - January 9, 2012)
COLOMBIAN INVASION?: It appears the Portland Timbers are on the verge of signing another Colombian import to the roster for the 2012 season, but this time they're getting defensive. Expect an announcement on Tuesday. (UPDATE: The deal is done.)
THREE'S COMPANY: US forward Edson Buddle will be reunited with former club and international teammate Landon Donovan and current US No. 1 Tim Howard – at least for this week. Buddle's agent, Richard Motzkin, revealed on Twitter that the player will be on trial at Everton this coming week. Could he become the third Yank in the fold at Goodison Park? (Motzkin's tweet - Jan. 15, 2012)
BENTLEY WANTS MLS MOVE: Tottenham midfielder David Bentley, once touted David Beckham's successor for England, could get a chance to measure up against him. Bentley, who is recovering from an injury and is slated for a March return, wants a summer loan move to MLS, and apparently teams are lining up. (People.co.uk - Jan. 15, 2012)
BIG APPLE BOUND: It seems Wilman Conde's wish for a second shot in MLS is a step closer to coming true after the New York Red Bulls bought his rights from the Chicago Fire. Could the Red Bulls be preparing in case Tim Ream makes the jump across the pond to Bolton? (Big Apple Soccer - Jan. 14, 2012)
MLS NEXT FOR CABRERA?: In an interview with Soccer America, former US U-17 coach Wilmer Cabrera stated that he rejected the offer from US Soccer to keep the reigns of the team because the length of the contract was not long enough. But the program's loss could be a gain for MLS, as Cabrera revealed his in talks to join one team's technical staff. (Soccer America - Jan. 14, 2012)
AY, CARAMBA!: It seems US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann will get his second taste of the heated rivalry against Mexico in an exhibition match to be played this August. The venue? Estadio Azteca. Can Klinsmann finally lead the Americans through the humid, smoggy, and raucous atmosphere to their first-ever victory south of the border? (Goal.com - Jan. 14, 2012)
URUGUAYAN TOUCH: Could striker Vicente Sánchez join compatriot Álvaro Fernández in MLS? Sánchez formally cut ties with Mexican giant Club América on Thursday and is in search of a new club. América president of operations Yon de Luisa said the club is willing to facilitate the move. (El Universal - Jan. 13, 2012)
SAMBA ON TOUR: How is your jogo bonito these days? According to their federation's own calendar, the Brazilian national team will play both the United States and Mexico during their summer swing. The four-time World Champs are slated to play Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 9. According to this link, they'll face the USMNT a week earlier in either Washington or Boston, and El Tri in Dallas. (cbf.com.br - Jan. 12, 2012)
JACKSON JOINING JUNINHO IN BRAZIL?: FC Dallas' offseason efforts may have just gotten a little more complicated. Schellas Hyndman's versatile Brazilian, Jackson Gonçalves, is reported to be headed to Cruziero on a year-long loan. Jackson was on loan to FCD from São Paulo. According to reports in his home country, the 23-year-old is already in Belo Horizonte and undergoing a medical in preparation for the move. (Globoesporte.com - Jan. 11, 2012)
FARFAN IMPRESSING WITH SUNDERLAND: Not a transfer rumor exactly, but reports across the pond have Union utility man Michael Farfan giving his reputation a boost while training with EPL side Sunderland following a banner rookie season. (The Daily Mail - Jan. 11, 2012)
LOOKS RIGHT IN ORANGE: He may not move the needle like David Beckham or Thierry Henry, but Kris Boyd is a legend in Glasgow and is the Scottish Premier League's all-time leading scorer. And according to news outlets big and small, the 28-year-old striker is seriously considering a move to the Houston Dynamo after a falling out with his Turkish club. (Sky Sports - Jan. 10, 2012)
NEW TASTE OF THE ROCKIES: Looks like Oscar Pareja's hiring in Colorado could bear frutas pretty quickly. The Denver Post has confirmed an earlier Goal.com report that the Rapids have been in discussions with Colombian midfielder Jaime Castrillón. Name sound at all familiar? He scored Colombia's winning goal vs. the US at the 2007 Copa América. (Denver Post - Jan. 9, 2012)
REAM RUMORING: The chatter on a possible Tim Ream move to Bolton is heating up. The Red Bulls defender's agent says talks are progressing between MLS and the EPL club, while various reports have even settled on a range of $2.5 million to $3.5 million as a transfer fee for the US national teamer. (Sporting News - Jan. 9, 2012)
DEUCE ON THE LOOSE:Clint Dempsey's red-hot form has to see him on the move from Fulham sooner or later, right? Probably not in the midseason window, speculates The New York Times' Goal blog, who sees a big-time transfer for the Texan likely this summer as Dempsey eyes Champions League football. (The New York Times - Jan. 9, 2012)
THE ROAD NORTH:Jaime Castrillón and Hanyer Mosquera are the latest Colombians who've been linked with a move to MLS. A report says Castrillón (a 28-year-old midfielder with 28 caps for the national team) and Mosquera (a 24-year-old defender) both have turned down Millonarios and signed in MLS. No teams are mentioned, but they got the news from a tweet from the official Millonarios handle. (FutbolRed.com - Jan. 8, 2012)
CHILE IN TORONTO?: It looks like the offseason parade of South American veterans to MLS could continue, as Toronto FC are set to sign CD Universidad de Concepción central defender Miguel Aceval, according to reports out of Chile. The 28-year-old has made one international appearance, which came last year against Mexico. (TSN.ca - Jan. 8, 2012)
KEEPER CAROUSEL: Reports out of Venezuela suggest that the Red Bulls have turned their sites toward star goalkeeper Renny Vega, who was the Venezuelan national team player of 2011. The Caracas FC backstop apparently made a trip to the Big Apple recently and, while he isn't a household name, he ain't no scrub: Vega put in Man of the Match performance against Brazil in last summer's Copa América. (Empire of Soccer - Jan. 7, 2012)
SHORT-TERM VILLAN: "Not far away." That's how Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish assesses the progress of a loan deal for LA's Robbie Keane. The Villa boss expects deal -- which some outlets claim includes a seven-figure fee -- to be completed by next week. (ESPN.com - Jan. 6, 2012)
FROM THE NET TO THE BOOTH: The RC always knew retired Sounders 'keeper Kasey Keller wasn't going to be content just riding his dirt bike all day. Now it appears he's going to go into the TV booth as the color commentator for Seattle broadcasts. This report also says the Sounders are close to announcing the guy who would be Keller's play-by-play partner. (The Seattle Times - Jan. 6, 2012)
BOLTON CLOSING IN ON PERMANENT REAM DEAL: It is looking more and more likely that Tim Ream will be the latest MLS center back to try his luck overseas. ESPN is reporting that Bolton has made an official offer for the player and the clubs are close to an agreement that would send the young defender to the EPL side for somewhere between $2.5 million and $3 million. Ream would join Stu Holden at Bolton should the deal go through. (ESPN.com - Jan. 6, 2012)
ALL SIGNS POINT TO A BRAZIL STAY FOR JUNINHO: Official word hasn't come out of LA just yet, but all indications are that Juninho's time with the Galaxy is finished. The latest sign, which is about as compelling as they come, is an interview with the midfielder on Sao Paulo FC's official website. It seems LA would have liked to keep hold of the Brazilian, but he and the club felt it was time to return to Sao Paulo to compete for a place in the team. (São Paulo Futebol Clube - Jan. 4, 2012)
