GUADALAJARA, Mexico – American involvement on teams south of the border ended for 2013 on Sunday evening with Jose Torres and Tigres UANLS crashing out of the Liga MX quarterfinals.
Now the final transfer window ahead of the 2014 World Cup year is approaching, with the potential implications for the US national team at Brazil obvious and rumors already flying about players moving on.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s starting left back DaMarcus Beasley wasn’t included on Puebla’s transfer list, but that hasn’t stopped talk about a possible exit, with Milenio, Diario Cambio and Periódico Digital all suggesting the 31-year-old could be leaving, with Querétaro, Pumas UNAM and Monterrey named as possible destinations over the three stories.
Club president Jesús López Chargoy also seemed to suggest that a deal was imminent in a Tweet from his account.
Fellow American Michael Orozco Fiscal enjoyed a standout season for Puebla in the Apertura and looks set to stay at La Franja, with his loan deal from Chiapas FC (formerly San Luis) running out next June.
Staying with Puebla, MLSsoccer.com reported that Benji Joya could be joining up with the squad this week from Santos Laguna, with his US U-20 international teammate Daniel Cuevas joining him across town at Ascenso MX outfit Lobos BUAP.
Over at Club Tijuana, there is still an element of uncertainty with a new coach yet to be named, but Joe Corona looks set to stay on following reports he would consider a winter exit, after positive talks with the club about his role in the first team coming off the back of an Apertura season when he didn’t feature as much as he would’ve liked.
Tijuana left back Edgar Castillo has attracted interest from a sizeable Mexican club that will appear in the Copa Libertadores next season, but the player himself is weighing up potential opportunities outside of North America.
All of which could potentially open the door for Greg Garza to more playing time, with the Texan left back likely to stay at Xolos having signed a new contract ahead of last season.
As for Xolos’ other Americans, it would a big surprise if Herculez Gomez and Paul Arriola were to move on this offseason, having only joined the club last summer.
At Tigres, Torres has got regular minutes under Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti, but the coach’s future is not 100 percent clear as yet and the club has not released an official transfer list.
Teammate Jonathan Bornstein has again endured a season without much playing time, but still has a contract with the Monterrey club and while he may well end up on the transfer list, there is no immediate change of status.
Further south, reports last month from Brazil suggested that first division outfit Bahia is set to cut ties with Freddy Adu, who will once again be on the move looking for a new club, with Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl suggesting that Mexico could be an option for the 24-year-old.
Finally, striker Kevin Hoyos is back in Argentina with Estudiantes de La Plata following his loan spell with Victoria in Honduras and is awaiting news on his immediate future.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
