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Aurelien Collin has been a key part of Sporting Kansas City's stellar defense and championship runs since he joined the team in 2011. But now Collin is out of contract and there is concern and speculation that he may not return to Kansas City for next season.
When Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes sat down with several reporters last week it was announced that they had made bona fide to four players: Kevin Ellis, Jacob Peterson, Soony Saad and Collin. The offers mean that even if the players do not sign, Sporting KC would retain their rights in MLS. At least that is what it would mean under the expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement.
When asked specifically about Collin, Vermes stated that he has been in talks with Collin's agent since the end of the season. Those talks do not appear to be all smooth by the way Vermes described the conversation, "I'm not saying it's always good, but there's definitely banter back and forth."
Collin has been quiet but he did retweet a fans comment to give him the money.
@SportingKC are you crazy?! Give @ampC2 the $!
— Joshua Raper (@raper_joshua) November 28, 2014
When contacted to see how the negotiations are going, Collin replied to speak with the club or his agent. So far his agent has not responded.
In that meeting with reporters last week, Vermes made it clear that trades were being discussed but he would understandably not reveal which players were potential moves.
Recently Duane Rollins from Canadian Soccer News reported that Toronto FC is one of a couple clubs talking to Sporting KC about Collin. Rollins also said the French defender wants close to a max deal and that Toronto FC has cap room to fit him in and they have three first draft picks to package as bait.
Just spoke to someone who said that #TFC is one of a couple teams talking to SKC about a trade for Aurelien Collin.
— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) November 28, 2014
Rollins also said the French defender wants close to a max deal and that Toronto FC has cap room to fit him in and they have three first draft picks to package as bait.
Collin wants something close to a max deal and TFC one of the few teams with enough cap space and allocation to accommodate that.
— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) November 28, 2014
TFC has three picks in top 11 of SuperDraft and may be willing to package them as part of deal for Collin.
— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) November 28, 2014
Toronto FC has the sixth, ninth and eleventh picks in the next draft and Sporting KC already has the twelfth pick. The last and only time Vermes had two first round picks he took Chance Myers and Roger Espinoza. It remains to be seen if Collin will be back or if he ends up playing in MLS again.
** Update clarification **
Sporting KC already has two picks in first round. New England's natural pick for Teal Bunbury but that will be near the end of the round since the Revolution have finished so well. Thanks to Mike for pointing out the need for the clarification.
Questions:
If Vermes does trade his rights, would he only trade them to an eastern conference team now that Sporting KC is moving to the west?
What would happen to Collin's fashion line and stores in Kansas City?
Would Collin score off of a header the first time he faced SKC?