One of the league’s top playmakers appears to be on the move.
According to Metro, Los Angeles FC is closing in on a deal for New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan. If the move were to come to fruition, it would mark the second consecutive offseason where the Red Bulls dealt their captain following last winter’s deal that sent Dax McCarty to the Chicago Fire.
According to the report, the deal would see the Red Bulls receive more than the $400,000 earned by the club on the McCarty deal.
For LAFC, the deal would see the expansion club acquire one of the league’s premier playmakers in Kljestan, who already has a prior relationship with LAFC boss Bob Bradley. Kljestan has combined for 51 assists since returning to MLS with the Red Bulls in 2015 while also adding 16 goals.
As things stand, LAFC’s roster consists of Carlos Vela, Latif Blessing, Marco Urena and Argentinian youngster Rodrigo Pacheco in the attacking half of the field. The club made some big moves on Tuesday, swapping Expansion Draft picks Jukka Raitala and Raheem Edwards for defender Laurent Ciman days after acquiring centerback Walker Zimmerman.
Good luc, Sasha! All the best!
Now get Jonathan Bornstein!!!
Apparently, completely rebranding Chivas USA also somehow includes immediately re-signing Bob Bradley and Sacha Kliejstan
Sasha is 2 years older than McCarty. At 32, the Red Bull likely wanted to unload him while he still has some value. LAFC, OTOH needs to get off to a fast start hence Ciman and Kljestan to anchor the middle of the field with experience.
Who will be LAFC’s go to defensive mid?
Bob Bradley has always seemed to me to want someone there he can count on to work hard and disrupt the opponents. (He used Chris Armas, Richie Williams, Jesse Marsch, Ricardo Clark at the club level and really wanted Jermaine Jones for the 2010 WC team, but did not get him onto the national team until later.)
He’s getting up there, can’t be good for more than a year, maybe two. He’ll be good if they want to win right away, but not a good long term pick.
GAME CHANGER!!
clearly an overstatement smh…what games has he changed, when it has mattered??
He has lead the league in assists for 2 years now.
He had 20 in 2016.
Easier to list the games he DIDNT change at that point.
I am not here to convince you should love SK, but come on. You can see why some would love him. If not I am smh.