BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Chicago Sister Cities International Cup kicks off Wednesday night with two games at Toyota Park, but more will be on the line for the host team than the comparatively simple matter of getting a result in the opening match.
The Fire – who indicated through head coach Carlos de los Cobos on Tuesday that they’ll be in the market for “a dynamic player in the middle” when the transfer window re-opens in June – are looking at the Sister Cities Tournament as a chance to scout.
One player on whom de los Cobos and Fire technical director Frank Klopas will likely have their eyes is Paris Saint-Germain winger Ludovic Giuly. France Football reported in April that the 33-year-old Giuly, who captained AS Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final and has played for the likes of Barcelona, Roma and Lyon, is mulling over the idea of coming to MLS.
“All the guys are speaking very good about Giuly,” de los Cobos said on Tuesday. “[Assistant coach] Mike Matkovich is speaking to me about the possibility to bring this guy [in]. We need to speak with Frank and all the directors.”
It’s important to note that Giuly does have a year left on his contract at PSG, meaning that any team wishing to sign him this summer would have to also pay the Ligue 1 club a transfer fee.
Sam Stejskal covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at sam.h.stejskal@gmail.com.
