Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. UNITED’S NEW LOOK
D.C. United have officially unveiled their new logo, showcasing an updated design on the classic crest at an event for season-ticket holders on Thursday. The update marks the first time United have changed their design since 1997.
2. STEWART MEETS THE PRESS
The Philadelphia Union introduced their new Sporting Director to the press on Thursday, with Earnie Stewart lauded as a “critical piece of the puzzle” by Union owner Jay Sugarman. Stewart built a name for himself with success at AZ Alkmaar, and explained how he hopes to do the same with the team from Pennsylvania.
3. UNION MAKE SOME CHANGES
The Philadelphia Union also announced their roster moves on Thursday, with the club picking up options on seven players and declining those for 10 others. The Union also traded Ethan White to New York City FC in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round SuperDraft selection.
4. NYCFC READY FOR ACTION
The MLS season may be over but New York City FC will be in action tonight as they take on the Puerto Rico national team (7 pm ET; YES) and – while the club may put some potential players through their paces – it seems one player not destined to return next season is … Shay Facey.
5. VILLAFANA MOVE CONFIRMED
There have been reports all week that Jorge Villafana is set to leave the Portland Timbers and head to Mexico< and it looks like the move is now official, with the defender apparently signing a three-year deal with Santos Laguna.
6. WHERE NEXT FOR WILL JOHNSON?
Will Johnson is widely expected to leave the Portland Timbers this winter and while the Vancouver Whitecaps have been linked, it seems that move is unlikely, with the Chicago Fire and Toronto FC emerging as two other potential destinations for the Canadian midfielder.
7. BEITASHOUR'S CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP
Meanwhile, it looks like there might be one player leaving the Vancouver Whitecaps, following the news that the ‘Caps havereportedly traded Steven Beitashour to Canadian rivals Toronto FC after failing to agree a new deal with the Iranian international right back.
8. BEZBATCHENKO HAS A PLAN
Toronto FC made the playoffs for the first time this year but how does the Canadian club take that progress even further in 2016? General manager Tim Bezbatchenko has some ideas on the subject, talking through all the various pieces of the puzzle currently in play for TFC.
9. IS MERAM A MAN IN DEMAND?
Justin Meram has already had his option picked up for 2016 by Columbus Crew SC, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the midfielder will be staying put in Ohio – Meram's agent suggests the Iraqi international is attracting interest from other MLS clubs as well as Europe.
10. CIMAN OPEN TO EXTENDED STAY
While Laurent Ciman has often been linked with an early exit from the Montreal Impact, could the Belgian defender actually be looking to extend his stay? Ciman himself has stated that he’s happy at the Impact and would be open toextending his contract beyond 2017.
11. STARTING FROM SCRATCH
Following their first soccer hire this week, LAFC are starting to make progress on their franchise. But the MLS expansion team still have the exciting, or possibly daunting, task of building a club culture from scratch, something which – to the owners – was part of the appeal to begin with.
12. COLLEGE CUP APPROACHES FINALE
The College Cup descends on Kansas City this weekend for the semifinals and final, with a number of MLS academy products and potential SuperDraft selections set to battle it out for the top prize on Sunday, including US international Jordan Morris.
13. US SET TO PLAY ICELAND?
The start of the year will mark another US national team January camp and it looks like they could be set to face some top competition at the end of it, with rumors suggesting the USMNT will be facing Iceland on January 31st.
14. GOOD NEWS FOR AMERICAN EXPORTS
There was good news for one American export, as Ethan Hovarth and Moldesecured the top spot in their Europa League group. And it appears the US national team could soon have another player playing in the UEFA Champions League, following reports that Gent’s Israeli-American midfielder Kenny Saief has been scouted by the US for a potential call-up.
15. UNCERTAIN FUTURES
As for other exports, John Brooks has been urged to stay by his current boss at Hertha Berlin, though Greg Garza is on the move, returning to Club Tijuana following a disappointing spell at Club Atlas.
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