NO GOING BACK: The chances of Thierry Henry staying at Arsenal past his two-month loan? Zero, says Red Bulls coach Hans Backe in this Swedish interview. The French star's "highest goal" is to win an MLS Cup, Backe says, and he's not expecting Henry to start during his time back at the Emirates, either. (fotbollskanalen.se - Dec. 30, 2011)
MILLER TIME: According to this report out of Ecuador, Miller Bolaños is on his way to Chivas USA. The 21-year-old central midfielder is supposedly headed to Carson on a one-year loan from Ecuadorian powerhouse Liga de Quito. (Radio Sucre - Dec. 31, 2011)
SICILY ENTICIN': Lots has happened in Seattle already this offseason, and more movement could be in the offing as Goal.com reports that Serie A side Palermo are interested in bringing Sounders midfielder Alvaro Fernandez to Sicily. (Goal.com - Dec. 30, 2011)
A FRENCH REAL AMERICAN?: Hot on the heels of the Zimmerman tweets comes this Q&A with Sporting KC's French defender, Aurelien Collin, who says he has looked into the naturalization process, which would make him eligible to represent the United States. Qu'est-ce que tu pense, Monsieur Klinsmann?(Blogolo.fr - Dec. 30, 2011)
PERHAPS, PERTUZ?: The hints that Independiente defender Hernan Pertuz is headed to MLS -- reportedly to FC Dallas, to be precise -- got a boost on Friday when the club's president mentioned in a Q&A that the player had signed with MLS. (Terra.com.co - Dec. 30, 2011)
SCANDINAVIA SOUNDERS FC: The Sounders got their Swedish right back, but now they may also get a Dane. FC Midtjylland's Christian Sivebaek, 23, has told the Danish press that he will move to Seattle for the 2012 season. Nothing's confirmed from the club's side, but the winger -- whose father, John, represented Denmark at the 1986 World Cup and scored the first goal of the Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United -- is obviously impressed with the Sounders, saying: "Everything is huge." (AOH.dk - Dec. 29, 2011)
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM PERU: Peruvian Benjamin Ubierna, 20, appears set to move from Universidad San Martin to MLS. The young defensive midfielder will take part in next month's MLS Combine, according to the league. Ubierna won the Peruvian title in 2010 with San Martin (the club was led by ex-Toronto FC mdifielder Pablo Vitti that year) and has appeared for the Peruvian U20 team. (Netjoven.pe - Dec. 28, 2011)
CHILE ENOUGH FOR YA IN CANADA?: If reports out of Chile are correct, one of the Canadian MLS clubs is about to sign a new left back: Miguel Aceval. The 28-year-old is currently with Universidad de Concepcion in the Chilean first division, but he has spent the majority of his career with powerhouse Colo Colo. He debuted for Chile this fall in a friendly against Mexico. (Terra.cl - Dec. 28, 2011)
FEELING BLAS: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Noted Colombian journalist Diego Rueda has tweeted that Blas Pérez – a foe US fans know all too well – "will play in MLS." The Panamanian national team striker and journeyman of the Colombian and Mexican leagues is looking for a new address after his current team, Indios de Ciudad Juárez, announced they'll be dissolving due to financial problems. (Twitter - Dec. 27, 2011)
OTRO CATRACHO? Another Honduran national-teamer could be headed to MLS, as sports daily Diez quotes World Cup and three-time Gold Cup veteran winger Óscar Boniek García as claiming that MLS is "a good option" for the next stage in the 27-year-old's career. (Diez - Dec. 28, 2011)
TRADING SWEDES: Seattle may have lost Erik Friberg this offseason, but that doesn't necessarily mean they've lost their Swedish connection. Reports across the pond are linking right back Adam Johansson to the Sounders, and claim he has signed a three-year deal the the MLS club. (Gothenburg Post - Dec. 27, 2011)
COMBINE FODDER: Ex-Arsenal, Blackburn and Liverpool youth Jason Banton said on Twitter that he's been invited to participate in the MLS Combine next month. The 19-year old represented England at the U-17 level, but has failed to find a permanent home in Old Blighty. (@JasonBanton - Dec. 26, 2011)
THE SPEED OPTION: It's looking more and more like the Sounders have targeted Trinidadian youngster Cordell Cato as their next signing. The T&T U-20 is described as a Sanna Nyassi-type who can play up top or on the wing, but needs time to develop. (Sounder at Heart - Dec. 26, 2011)
FIRE CHASING GREEK STRIKER: Financial problems at Greek club PAOK mean they've got to move some of their bigger-name players. That leaves an opening for MLS, and it seems the Chicago Fire are targeting striker Dimitris Salpigidis. The 30-year-old has more than 50 caps for Greece, and scored the nation's first World Cup goal against Nigeria in 2010. (Sport-fm.gr - Dec. 26, 2011)
SERENGETI STRIKER: Tanzanian international and Azam FC striker Mrisho Ngassa may yet get his move to Seattle, according to reports in Africa. Ngassa was on trial with the Sounders last summer and made a cameo appearance against Manchester United. The striker is hoping for another trial to show what he can do. (The Citizen - Dec. 25, 2011)
ABRAHAM IN THE LAND OF LINCOLN?: Frank Klopas is revamping the Chicago Fire for 2012, and he might have his sights set on a Spanish center midfielder with Barcelona on his CV. Abraham, 26, is currently with Alcorcón in the 2nd div., but is reportedly talking to the Fire. (Sport.es - Dec 25, 2011)
