By VINCE MADURI
Sky Sports in England are reporting that Norwich City have made a bid to Sporting Kansas City aimed at securing forward Kei Kamara to help them avoid the drop in the second half of the season.
The forward has scored nine goals or more in each of his last three seasons, including eleven this past season and was recently named Sierra Leone player of the year.
Kamara is the most recent of several SKC players to benefit from the club’s recent success and be linked with English clubs, following former teammate Roger Espinoza’s move to Wigan and Graham Zusi’s trial at West Ham.
Here are some more MLS stories to get you through Wednesday.
WHITECAPS TO SIGN JAPANESE ATTACKING MIDFIELDER
The Vancouver Whitecaps continue to add attacking talent to their repertoire as they look set to sign Japanese midfielder Daigo Kobayashi. Kobayashi will join the Whitecaps Wednesday for medicals ahead of his signing, assuming all goes well.
The 29-year-old began his professional career in 2001 with Tokyo Verdy, where he went on to win an Emperor’s Cup in 2004 and Japanese Super Cup in 2005. He was loaned to Norwegian champions Stabaek, and played in Europa League qualifying. In 2010, he signed with Iraklis in Greece and returned 18 months later to join Shimizu S-Pulse in the J-League.
Kobayashi has played for Japan at the U-20 level and has been capped once for the senior team in a friendly.
The Whitecaps have also reportedly signed a trio of forwards to the roster. Corey Hertzog, Tom Heinemann and Paul Jr. have all been added to the Vancouver roster, increase speculation about the future of current forwards Kenny Miller and Omar Salgado.
TIMBERS RELEASE FRANCK SONGO’O
The Portland Timbers have released midfielder Franck Songo’o as they look to clip their roster. Under the new leadership of Caleb Porter, the Timbers have been busy adding several players including midfielder Will Johnson and some difficult roster decisions were bound to be made.
Songo’o probably is a casualty of being surplus to requirements as he had a very good first season in MLS. The Cameroon international appeared in 27 games for the Timbers, scoring one goal and assisting on 5, the second best on the team.
LABROCCA TRADED TO COLORADO
SBI reported Tuesday that Chivas USA continued its facelift by trading midfield playmaker Nick LaBrocca to Colorado Rapids for Mexican-American midfielder Eric Avila.
Nick LaBrocca returns to Colorado, where he started his career in 2007. He made 61 appearances for the Rapids, scoring four goals before moving to Chivas USA. The midfielder had a career year in 2011, scoring eight goals and six assists.
LaBrocca had been hailed as the Goats most impressive outfield player over his two years at the club.
Eric Avila enjoyed his best season of his career thus far last season with Toronto FC, scoring one goal and assisting on two in a career high 24 appearances.
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