VANCOUVER, B.C. – With rumors swirling that the Vancouver Whitecaps are on the cusp of signing Danish goalkeeper David Ousted, current 'Caps starting netminder Brad Knighton says he’s just trying to focus on the task at hand.
“All I know right now is rumors,” Knighton told reporters following Saturday’s 4-3 win over the New England Revolution at BC Place. “It’s what you guys read. I’ve not been told anything. I’m just going about my business.
“This is my job right now and it’s my job to lose. As long as we’re winning games, I don’t see anything changing.”
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The 28 year-old’s time in Major League Soccer has been one defined by constant competition, as he seems to be one of those goalkeepers capable of starting but, for one reason or another, has never held a starting job for a full season.
After wrestling the starting job away from Joe Cannon in the final third of 2012, Knighton lost the spot during preseason to Cannon once again, before regaining the No. 1 position in recent weeks.
And now that Knighton’s got his spot back, there are reports out of Denmark that Randers FC ‘keeper Ousted is en route to Vancouver.
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“Whatever happens, I’m here to compete and someone’s going to have to take [the starting spot] out of my hands,” Knighton said. “So if somebody’s coming in, let that be that. It’s one of those things. Life is all about taking your chances when you have them.
“I’ve got a chance right now and it’s my spot to lose.”
As for the Whitecaps themselves, they have dismissed the reports out of Denmark, saying they are nothing more than rumors.
“Nothing on that,” head coach Martin Rennie told TEAM 1410 recently when asked about the reports. “Any time we sign someone, we announce it. Until then, we never really talk about rumors. There’s a lot of rumors this time of year. I think we were going to sign Kaka recently. So nothing on that either.”
If Ousted or any other players outside of North America are headed Vancouver’s way, they won’t be able to suit up for the club until after July 9, when this continent’s summer transfer window opens.
Martin MacMahon covers the Vancouver Whitecaps for MLSsoccer.com.
