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MLS Ticker: Hassli trade to Dallas brewing, Timbers part ways with Boyd, and more

By IVES GALARCEP

FC Dallas isn’t wasting any time spending the big chunk of allocation money gained from Brek Shea’s $4 million transfer to Stoke City, with the club revealing on Friday that talks were underway with Toronto FC for the services of French striker Eric Hassli.

The official FC Dallas twitter account revealed the trade talks on Friday evening in rather surprising fashion:

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe development comes more than two weeks after SBI reported that Hassli had requested a trade from Toronto FC.

So what would a trade consist of? The most likely scenario would have FC Dallas shipping TFC allocation money with Toronto sending Hassli to Dallas while picking up some of his salary. It is tough to picture a scenario where Dallas would bring in Hassli and also pay his Designated Player salary. The deal could be similar to the trade FC Dallas and Toronto FC made last season for Julian DeGuzman, a deal that saw TFC pay most of DeGuzman’s salary.

Here are some more MLS stories to catch you up on the pre-sesaon action in the league:

TIMBERS PART WAYS WITH BOYD

The Portland Timbers went into the off-season with a long list of things to do to transform the club. At the top of that list was getting rid of Kris Boyd.

SBI reported two weeks ago that the Timbers had succeeded in dumping Boyd, and Portland confirmed that news on Friday, announcing that they had terminated his contract by mutual consent.

Boyd never quite settled in with the Timbers, and was seen as a poor fit for Caleb Porter’s possession and high-pressing system. He managed seven goals and one assist in 25 matches for the Timbers.

With Boyd gone, the Timbers have salary cap room to make some more personnel moves before the start of the MLS season.

Portland has already made a plethora of major moves, including signing midfielder Diego Valeri as a Designated Player and trading for Canadian midfielder Will Johnson and Jamaican forward Ryan Johnson.

PRE-SEASON SCOREBOARD

The Colorado Rapids defeated the San Jose Earthquakes, 1-0, courtesy of a Jamie Smith goal off an Andre Akpan pass on Saturday in Tucson. (HIGHLIGHTS)

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The New York Red Bulls defeated the Columbus Crew, 2-0, on Friday in Tucson, Arizona. Rookie Ian Christianson and Kenny Cooper. (RECAP)

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Guest trialist Jerome Mechak scored the lone goal in Sporting Kansas City’s 1-0 win vs. the Portland Timbers in Tucson, Arizona on Friday night. Soony Saad left the match with a bruised tailbone. (RECAP)

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What do you think of these developments? Think FC Dallas is wise to go after Hassli, or is it a risky move? See Portland’s move to dump Boyd being a big plus, or did they cut the Scottish striker loose too soon?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

    • Is their any doubt that he probably was one of the unfit players? The dude is a big guy as it is. With his bad work ethic and antics he’s pulls sometimes, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least bit.

      Reply
  1. I really hope that TFC isnt paying for any of his salary, we could use him as a striker and he would be effective. That being said id rather have teh cap space and someone that wants to be here (as well as an effective striker if possible). I really dont see how we’d benefit from shipping him out AND paying for a piece of his salary. If we want rid of him that bad, pay him off.

    Reply
    • I have to agree with OMY above. This makes no sense for Toronto if they pick up any of his salary, especially considering Payne has been vocal in local media about how poorly the salary cap has been managed, and how he’s looking at buying out a DP in order to bring things into balance.

      Reply
      • i don’t think it makes much sense for FCD either because you don’t know which Hassli will show up. He’s great when he’s on his game but the guy seems to be a major league flake and always unhappy about something.

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