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After yesterday’s reports about Johan Croizet, Sporting KC may have already completed another move. Ives Galarcep tweeted SKC is locking down a trade forward Khiry Shelton.
I'm hearing Sporting KC is lining up a trade for Khiry Shelton, who NYCFC has had on the market since the season ended. #MLS #SportingKC #NYCFC
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) December 14, 2017
The KC Star & Sam McDowell are now reporting the deal is done and Sporting KC have traded Saad-Abdul Salaam to New York City FC.
Shelton was drafted #2 overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by NYCFC and played in 17 matches as a rookie. In 2016 he had four goals & nine assists in just 22 appearances, but then found it much harder to get on the field this past season. NYC has been open to moving Khiry and his stock has definitely fallen over the past year. However a change of scenery could do wonders for the 24 year old, and Peter Vermes would probably love to get his hands on that raw talent.
Sporting KC developed a bit of a surplus at right-back as Zusi shifted to the back line and unfortunately Abdul-Salaam felt like natural trade bait for some time now. After being drafted by SKC at #12 in 2015, he made 67 MLS appearances with one goal and eight assists in three seasons.
Moving up the depth chart to be the backup to Graham Zusi is Colten Storm. He made 30 appearances for the Swope Park Rangers in their run to the final this year. It also means that room with SPR has opened up for Academy kid & U-17 National Team player Jaylin Lindsey.
The move seems to make sense for both sides. SKC had a defender to spare and needed attacking reinforcements, especially if Latif Blessing is actually gone for good. Khiry is not an immediate answer that will solve all of the goal scoring woes, but he still has potential to find another level to his game and he could become an important part of the squad in 2018.