COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – It’s beginning to look more and more like Caleb Folan will wear a Colorado Rapids jersey in 2011.
Rapids head coach Gary Smith told MLSsoccer.com on Friday that the team is nearly finished with a deal that could finally bring the big target man in from Hull City as early as the first part of next week.
“There’s been very positive dialog,” Smith told MLSsoccer.com after training Friday. “I am hopeful we could tidy it all up within 48 hours, if possible.”
Much of the progress appears to have come from Hull, the English Championship team which has made it clear it will not stand in Folan’s way if he wants to move on. Folan, 28, has 18 months left on his Hull contract.
“Hull have been terrific in this whole process,” Smith said. “Part of the issue for Caleb and his associates has been to come to some sort of decent conclusion on his contract at Hull. I believe he would maybe take some sort of payoff from Hull, as it were, and then we obviously have to fit him into the cap we have left, which is pretty tight.”
Smith has been adamant he will not get rid of any of his current players to help fit Folan into the roster.
Ever cautious, Smith said there are always obstacles that can ruin these kinds of deals, even when both sides are willing to make a move. However, he does not want to let this one go after watching Forlan during the team’s recent preseason stint in Arizona.
“We are edging towards 80 percent done,” Smith said. “That final 20 percent is the difference between signing on the dotted line or not. There can always be some tricky little things to maneuver around, and there are still one or two things that need ironing out, but we are edging closer.”
The Rapids are set to begin a four-day preseason trip to California next Tuesday where they will play San Jose and have two reserve games. <p><em><strong>Check out the Feb. 24 edition of the <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/extratime" target="_blank">ExtraTime Radio podcast</a>, featuring D.C. United's Charlie Davies, </strong></em><strong><em>Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando and league executive Nelson Rodriguez</em></strong> <em><strong>talking about the new playoff structure.</strong></em></p>
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