First on SBI
The Chicago Fire has been on the hunt for another attacking threat to complement star midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Fire may be close to landing that player.
The player’s name is Fabrice Pancrate, a 27-year-old French winger/forward who Chicago head coach Denis Hamlett and technical director Frank Klopas have traveled to France to see and try to sign, sources have confirmed to SBI.
Currently under contract to Paris St. Germain, Pancrate is playing for French club Sochaux on loan. He has failed to appear in a league match for Sochaux since Nov. 24, 2007, but could see action today when Sochaux travels to Monaco (Pancrate did not dress for today’s match). He started against St. Etienne in his last league appearance, but then failed to dress for another match until Sochaux’s most recent match, a 1-1 tie against Lille on Jan. 19.
A speedy 6-foot-1 winger, Pancrate would be a major upgrade on the right flank for the Fire, and could also provide depth at forward and left wing.
Pancrate is in the final year of his contract with PSG and Chicago is lining up a bid to buy out the remaining portion of his contract with hopes of signing him to a long-term deal.