Saturday’s dust-up with Federico Higuain could prove the beginning of the end to Kei Kamara’s tenure with the Columbus Crew.
Sports Illustrated is reporting that the Crew are actively shopping Kamara in advance of Wednesday’s MLS transfer deadline. However, any deal would be complicated by Kamara’s status as a Designated Player, making him ineligible to join teams already possessing a league max of three DPs.
If Kamara cannot be moved by Wednesday, any intra-league transaction would have to wait until the secondary transfer window, which runs from July 4 to August 3.
(UPDATE: Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter revealed on Tuesday that Kamara is suspended for this weekend’s match against the Colorado Rapids due to his postgame comments)
As of Tuesday, the only teams that would be able to take on Kamara’s DP status without extra roster moves are D.C. United, the Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Seattle Sounders or Sporting Kansas City. Kamara previously played for both the Dynamo and Sporting KC throughout his 10-year career.
The reports of a potential Kamara move come in the aftermath of Saturday’s incident, which saw Kamara argue with Higuain in the field prior to a penalty kick. The disagreement spilled into postgame interviews, where the Crew forward bashed Higuain while citing the disconnect between the two stars.
What do you think of the Kamara reports? Expect him to be moved? Which club would be the best fit?
Share your shouts below.
Honestly the most realistic trade in my eyes would be Kamara for Bruin but even that seems like a longshot.
I’m not disliking that idea at all. But Bruin i don’t believe fits in the C-bus system all that well. C-bus will create chances but I don’t see Will finishing them all that often. He will certainly not = Kamara so that’s kind of a loss on the soccer front BUT maybe a win on salary and team chemistry.
Bruin gets his fair share of goals not elite MLS striker level but he’s been scoring frequently for a while. Either way this would be a temporary fix not a solution.
Kamara for Gilberto and TAM
I think FCD should try and trade for Kamara. After trading Blas Perez there seems to be an absence of the necessary grit and toughness needed to win a championship and a forward that can put away headers. Kei Kamara does all of that and I think a package of something like Maximiliano Urruti & Tesho Akindele could easily get him.
Dallas doesn’t have a DP spot open, which means they’d have to move Diaz, Castillo, or Gruezo and none of those would replace Kamara for Columbus. Can’t see them picking up a back up for Finlay or Higuain and then having to play Connor Casey up top.
Tesho is really a striker but, his goal production is iffy, which is why he’s played on the wing. I can’t remember if Urruti played on the wing ever, but they are both talented strikers.
I haven’t looked at his salary, but perhaps Dallas could buy it down. I think there’s a precedent for that, but I can’t cite any specific case.
I think the Crew need to get rid of Higuian as well then and rebuild the team to play more on the counter with Finlay and Cedrick on the wings. Higuian slows down the Crews attack and just passes it to Afful far too often.
I may be one of the only people on Kamara’s side based on reading the previous thread, but I’m glad to see this for him. I’m not saying he’s a better player or makes the bigger impact than Higuain, but I don’t think Columbus will be able to replace his production up top.
If this story wasn’t being based on Grant Wahl’s twitter I’d think it had more legs. I think you can pretty much rule out the Eastern teams, so Houston, Seattle, and KC.
What would those place give you back?
Dwyer isn’t going to want to leave KC since his wife just got traded there and Colombus doesn’t have a women’s team to trade for her too.
Seattle you are talking Heculez Gomez and Nelson Valdez who 32 and 34 respectively, you don’t need Oalex Anderson who is very raw and you already have two very good wingers.
Houston is probably the best option the could offer up Giles Barnes or Will Bruin? They might be interested in unloading Cubo Torres, but I doubt Crew SC wants to take on that risk.
According to Grant (about 30 minutes ago), Kei has been suspended by Berhalter for the upcoming game. Could this be the beginning of the end?
More of a sign a trade is not happening. If they were trading him he’d be gone by Wednesday and there would be no need to suspend him. You only need to suspend him if he’s staying.
He played for Houston several years ago, during the Dom era. Dom ran him off under similar doghouse circumstances. I’d be interested if the door was even open here. New coach but some holdover players and who knows what the organization thinks. I do think he’d add some missing aerial bite and killer instinct. I also think he’s a Balotelli type who helps teams win some and then wears out his welcome. Having gotten C-bus to the final he’s now back on the downslope again.
But what Houston really needs is defensive help. We’re playing one-forward formations and stacking players behind the starter.
We’ll take him! The a Revs need a forward, especially one who can head the ball. In fact, he’s good enough in the air to step in at centerback for us.
If I were SKC or United I would be on the phone RIGHT NOW to land this guy. He is dominant in the air and would instantly add an attacking threat that neither of those teams have.
If I were Seatle I would be willing to trade Nelson V or one of the promising forward/wing options (Olex A.) to get Kai. He and Jordan up top w/ Deuce underneath could be an unstoppable trio. SSFC really misses the physicality and athleticism of Oba
What’s that you’re smoking? Valdez is a player that actually cares about his team and gives everything he has every game. Giving him up for a player like Kamara would be stupid. We already went through the whole headcase game with Eddie Johnson.
What exactly has Valdez done for SSFC besides “caring” and “giving everything”? And “headcase” is quite strong. In fact, you would be lucky to have a head-case like the GAM on your struggling team right now. Kei is a more complete footballer than the GAM. Let me go Benitez for a moment…Fact: Kei is better than every pure forward on your roster.
Nelson is quality no doubt, but he will not make SSFC a winner. The sounders, in addition to a grass playing surface, need a striker who can impact games today, not tomorrow.
Clint is getting older, Friberg is getting older. Ivanschitz is getting older. Marshall is getting older. Evans is getting older. Torres is getting older. Alonzo is getting older.
Winning has to be now!
Get Kei. Get a difference maker. Get to a cup final or much running and sweat will be wasted again as you get bounced in the playoffs.
Oalex Anderson for Kai Kamara, that might be the lowest ball offer ever in the history of MLS.
Of course there would be money changing hands and international roster spots and whatever MLS specific moves are made to get deals done… Kei’s value is considerably higher than OA’s
I could see Kei and Dempsey meshing like Arabs and Israelis. Not a good idea.
The Palestinians and the Israelis on my over 30 team get on swell … so long as we keep pumping in the crosses. LOL Not once has any of those guys gone studs up on each other. LOL
What a melting pot… #Merica
DC needs offensive help BADLY, and despite the on-field scuffle this guy is not a head case.
Come back to KC!!!
Agreed! Skc has been stagnant and 5’9″ Dwyer basically playing as a target is getting frustrating.
Dwyer Island!
Except that also means Dwyer is all you have to trade with too.
Columbus probably wouldn’t be down for that then since if Kei leaves a target forward is what they would need
Dwyer is the only asset they have? I would disagree. I like Dwyer but wouldn’t be opposed to the right trade for him. Heck If it was possible I would have kept Nemeth over Dom.
He’s the only forward that would come close to equaling Kamara’s talent. You aren’t going to pick up Benny they already have Higuain, Zusi they already have Finlay. Also, above all else the Crew would need a forward back otherwise they have to start Connor Casey.
I am pretty sure Ola Kamara is ahead of Conor Casey on the depth chart
I suppose you are right, but can you see them trading away Kei and not getting a forward back that can start ahead of Ola Kamara either.
Move that sun of a g…. to Championship on the bench now.