It’s not official just yet, but the Seattle Sounders look to be closing in on the signature of FC Kaiserslautern midfielder Christian Tiffert just hours before the MLS transfer window closes.
“We are in advanced negotiations with Christian Tiffert," the club said in a statement on Friday morning. "We will announce a signing when it becomes official.”
Meanwhile, Kaiserslautern’s official website is reporting the move as a done deal, and Tiffert’s American agent, Richard Motzkin, confirmed via Twitter that the midfielder will join Seattle as a Designated Player.
Rumor Central: According to agent, Tiffert will join Seattle as DP
As the Sounders already have the league-maximum three DPs on their roster, it’s unclear whether they’ll have to make another move before Tiffert’s signing can become official.
Tiffert may not be the biggest name to join MLS during the transfer window, but he would come with some quality credentials. He’s spent the last two seasons in the Bundesliga, helping lead Kaiserslautern to a seventh-place finish in 2010-11. That year, Tiffert led the league with 17 assists as FCK had their best top-flight finish since 2001-02.
But Kaiserslautern slumped badly last year, getting relegated after finishing last in the 18-team league. Tiffert’s numbers fell off considerably, too, as he had just two goals and an assist in league play. At the end of the year, the club fired coach Marco Kurz and Tiffert was apparently no longer in their plans.
Tiffert would most likely play as a central midfielder alongside Osvaldo Alonso with the Sounders. But part of what attracted the Sounders to him was his versatility, as he’s played all over the midfield during his time in Germany.
Jeremiah Oshan covers the Seattle Sounders for MLSsoccer.com and SB Nation.
