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MLS Ticker: Numbers emerge on reported Montero transfer; Chivas USA make roster moves; and more

Millonarios vs Equidad

By DAN KARELL

Fredy Montero hasn’t made up his mind yet on his club future, but reports continue to state that his time in Colombia could be ending in the next few weeks.

The Millonarios striker, on loan from Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders, scored twice on Saturday as his side defeated Sante Fe, 2-1, and is the subject of a transfer bid from Sporting Club de Portugal, in Lisbon, Portugal. New reports in Portugal are stating that Sporting are willing to pay €2.5 million ($3.25 million) for the mercurial forward who turns 26-years-old at the end of the month.

Montero left the Sounders in January for a move back to his native Colombia on-loan, though he hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him. During the forward’s time in MLS, he bagged 47 goals in 119 games and led the Sounders to three U.S. Open Cup titles.

Last Thursday, Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer confirmed to the Seattle Times that talks were ongoing between Sporting and the Sounders, but a deal was not yet in place.

Here are some more stories from around the league:

CHIVAS USA CONTINUE TO MAKE CHANGES

Laurent Courtois’ celebration for scoring his first goal of the season was short lived.

Chivas USA announced on Sunday that Courtois was one of four players who were leaving the team, just one day after the French midfielder helped the club earn a 1-1 draw against the New England Revolution.

Courtois and fellow midfielder Miller Bolaños had contractual options declined, while recalling Giovani Casillas back to the parent club and parting ways with Joaquin Velasquez.

The 34-year-old Courtois joined Chivas USA in August 2011, and was as of Sunday the third-longest tenured player on the squad. Bolaños arrived in January 2012, and Casillas and Velasquez both joined the team this past offseason.

Chivas USA are also reportedly on the cusp of bringing in Chivas Guadalajara forward Erick Torres for the rest of the 2013 MLS season.

SPORTING KC ANNOUNCE CCL SCHEDULE

Sporting Kansas City announced their schedule for the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League on Monday, with trips to Nicaragua and Honduras in August.

Sporting KC, in Group 2 of the Champions League, will be playing at Real Esteli of Nicaragua on August 7 and at CD Olimpia on August 27, with the return legs coming September 17 against Esteli and October 23 against Olimpia.

“It’s going to be a very difficult group,” Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes said in a news release from the team. “They are two opponents that are going to cause problems for us. But like any competition, we have to take it one game at a time and the importance for us is how we are going to manage our league games and the Champions League games. That is going to be the biggest hurdle over the course of the tournament.”

The competition is the first international tournament for the club since the North American SuperLiga in 2009. Sporting KC qualified for this year’s Champions League via last year’s U.S. Open Cup title.

EARTHQUAKES LINKED WITH NORTHERN IRISH WINGER

Since being granted free agency by Celtic FC in Scotland, Paddy McCourt has kept an eye on the dealings in MLS.

According to reports in England, the Northern Irishman was hoping for a new contract at Celtic Park, but manager Neil Lennon was hesitant to offer one, leading the winger to understand his time at the club was up.

Now, the San Jose Earthquakes have become involved, according to the reports, and have made a contract offer to the 29-year-old. McCourt has been linked with a move stateside since May, but until now no one knew whether there was serious interest from an MLS club.

Last season, McCourt played 20 times for Celtic in all competitions, but was mainly an unused option left on the bench, having made the 18 but not appearing in the match on 33 different occasions.

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What do you make of these reports? Do you believe the Montero is worth more? Were you surprised at Chivas USA’s recent transactions? Do you like Sporting KC’s chances in the CCL Group stage?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. how many players are still on the chivas USA roster, they have to be flirting pretty close to the minimum now.

    Reply
  2. Wasn’t Bolaños one of Chivas’ few solid players?

    How can the league Chivas to be so self-destructive and completely dismantle an already thin roster? Those players are under contract with MLS, right? How does Vergara’s organization simply say “Avila’s going to Guadalajara,” etc.?

    Reply
  3. Did I miss something? Why is everyone assuming Boca ends up with Chivas? Think he might help a team like Portland quite a bit, Chivas is way down on allocation draft, they’d have to make a trade to get him I believe.

    Reply
  4. some very interesting moves by chivas USA, bringing in torres and bocanegra, i think its just so they stop calling for their heads and gain some credibility

    Reply
  5. That’s really his name. Solid player too. It’s a shame his time at Celtic appears over, he contributed a lot to the Hoops.

    Reply
  6. Totally off subject…

    Fifa is supposed to make an announcement about world cup tickets today, but i can’t find any info. Anyone?

    Reply
    • First tickets don’t go on sale until August 20, they are making an announcement on prices etc. on July 19th, this according to the Brasilian government set up site on the World Cup

      Reply
      • They are advertising that the tickets will be the cheapest ever for a world cup, i live here and am hoping to score some tix, but not sure I want to buy until I know who plays in what game.

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