Here are the top soccer stories everyone’s talking about this morning:
FOE TO FRIEND
The Province is now confirming what we'd been hearing all day Tuesday out of Panama: ex-FC Dallas striker Blas Perez, a nemesis of the Vancouver Whitecaps in recent years, is set to join the club for preseason training.
BEST BUY
MLSsoccer.com's Sam Stejskal explains why Colorado's Designated Player signing of Albania forward Shkelzen Gashi was a sneaky good move.
REAL NEWS
Though Real Salt Lake were edged out by Mexican side Tijuana in a Tuesday friendly (thanks to a strike by US youth international Paul Arriola), local scribe Chris Kamrani reports that they have re-captured defender Chris Wingert.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
As has been rumored, the Chicago Fire have signed defender Johan Kappelhof away from Eredivisie side Groningen.
DEAL MAKER
The Los Angeles Times breaks down how the Galaxy managed to land the trio of Ashley Cole, Jelle Van Damme and expected signing Nigel de Jong.
THUMBS UP!
Orlando City star Kaka is quite approving of the plans for the club's new training digs and now he says he plans on doing his part to get the Lions into the playoffs.
HELLO, ADEL?
A Portuguese paper says AC Milan attacker Adel Taarabt could be on his way to MLS.
AN OFFER YOU MUST REFUSE
Soccer Insider Steven Goff reports that Orlando City have been waved away from chasing AC Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino, because he was already the subject of a D.C. United claim.
UNION JOB
It's taken him awhile, but Jamaican international Andre Blake is now the Philly Union No. 1 in goal.
UNITED ARTISTS
Impending expansion side Atlanta United FC have not only signed a second player in midfielder Junior Burgos, they've also put out a call to recruit artists for decorating their new stadium.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Ahead of Friday's friendly against Canada, USMNT boss Jurgen Klinsmann has released defenders Brad Evans and Michael Orozco to their clubs. Meanwhile, Dallas' Toyota Stadium has won the right to host the deciding leg of the US U-23 team's do-or-die Olympic qualifying clash with Colombia in March.
HOWARD IN DOUBT
Everton netminder Tim Howard could miss out on Wednesday's EPL tilt against Newcaslte after suffering a knock in training.
PASS THE CIGARS!
Last week, it was Landon Donovan. Now, US fan favorite Stuart Holden has become a proud new papa. And he has the Instagram image to rival Donovan's.
MLSsoccer.com Musts:
A preview of Friday's US-Canada friendly
Whitecaps youth movement convinces Aird
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