Portuguese Striker Linked to MLS. Could Sporting KC be the Team?

Portuguese outlet Abola is linking Tomane, a 25-year-old striker, to Major League Soccer. Now there is nothing saying Sporting Kansas City is the MLS team that is linked to Tomane, but it’s a possibility.

Last year’s Designated Player signing, Gerso Fernandes, came from the Portuguese first division. Diego Rubio also put in some time there. Past Sporting KC player, Nuno Coelho, also came from there (and is back playing over there). Also, Peter Vermes has said in the past that they like to scout in Portugal because many teams play a 4-3-3 or similar formations with attacking, speedy wingers. So let’s learn some more about Tomane.

His actual name is António Manuel Fernandes Mendes but he goes by Tomane. He’s a 25-year-old center forward who basically only plays in the middle of the field. Primarily as a #9 but also as a secondary striker. He plays for C.D. Tondela in the Primeira Liga (the Portuguese first division). They currently sit in 11th.

He is 5’11.5” tall. Prototypical Vermes forward. In the current season he has 25 appearances, six goals and seven assists across 2,149 minutes (just 0.25 goals per 90). He also has 8 yellow cards, so he’s probably feisty.

He’s never been much of a goal scorer as six is his career high in a single season. According to Transfermarkt he came to C.D. Tondela on a £90k transfer fee from FC Arouca (Portuguese second division). His current “value” is £810k ($1.1 million US) but he peaked at £2.25m ($3.2 million). He has also moved around a lot playing for four teams in the last 2.5 years (one due to a loan). He was also a part of the Portugal Youth National Team setup but has no caps for the first team.

His numbers definitely don’t jump off the screen at you. However, Vermes has been known to go after guys that are system fits with the expectation he could get more out of that player. Gerso was never much of a goal scorer but had a career high eight regular season goals in 2017. Felipe Gutierrez had never scored more than four goals in a season and he already has four through just four games in Kansas City.

All that said, the move wouldn’t fit the description of a big signing. His value would even seem to indicate he may just be a TAM level player and not even a DP.

What do you all think? Interested?