By IVES GALARCEP
The Columbus Crew made no secret of their desire to part ways with young midfielder Dilly Duka, and now the team has pulled off the deal to ship off the out-of-favor midfielder.
The Crew are trading Duka to the Chicago Fire for forward Dominic Oduro, sources confirmed to SBI on Friday.
The trade sends Columbus a speedy forward option in Oduro, who endured a subpar 2012 season, scoring six goals, just a season after leads the Fire with 12 goals.
Duka, 23, leaves the Crew after a roller-coaster 2012 season that saw him leave the club before the end of the season. He finished the year with two assists in 20 appearances and never quite played up to the potential he flashed in 2011, when he showed signs of being the player Columbus thought they were drafting as a first-round pick in 2010.
Now Duka joins a Fire squad that needs some help on the left flank. He should be a strong contender for minutes after the departure of Alvaro Fernandez.
For Oduro, 27, the moves sends him to his fifth MLS team in eight seasons. One of the fastest players in MLS, Oduro has struggled with his finishing since entering the league, but the Crew will be banking on him being the speed option in a forward stable that includes Jairo Arrieta and rookie Ryan Finley, as well as playmaker/second forward Federico Higuain.
What do you think of the trade? Who do you think got the better end of the deal?
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