:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65848868/usa_today_12947570.0.jpg)
Updated 12/17/19: This move is finally official. The deal is through 2022 with an option for 2023. The fee is somewhere between $5 and $6 million. That doesn’t come too close to the Top 15 transfer fees in MLS history.
A few weeks ago Sporting Kansas City were linked to Canadian International Lucas Cavallini (the boys talked about him and his potential fit on The Shades of Blue Soccer Show). The Liga MX striker currently plays for Puebla but it appears he will return to the great white north and join the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Multiple sources are stating Cavallini has joined the Caps. The first source, John Sutcliffe, misreported that Matias Almeyda was joining Monterrey earlier in the year but that didn’t come to fruition (h/t to our own Mike Kuhn).
The second source is Gustavo Mendoza of Fox Deportes.
C A V A L L I N I!!!
— Gustavo Mendoza (@GusMenFox) December 7, 2019
A pesar de tener varias buenas ofertas de otros equipos en la LIGAMX Lucas se irá a jugar a la @MLS al equipo de Vancouver.
Recibió una oferta irresistible y deja el fútbol mexicano. @FOXSportsMX @UpalabraMX
According to Google Translate:
CAVALLINI !!! Despite having several good offers from other teams in LIGAMX Lucas will go to play @MLS to the Vancouver team. He received an irresistible offer and leaves Mexican football. @FOXSportsMX @UpalabraMX
It will be interesting to see how much the “irresistible offer” actually is. Whether that is the transfer fee from Vancouver or if that is in the wages offered to Cavallini or possibly just the chance to play in Canada again (he’s a Toronto native).
Regardless, it appears that the move is imminent and Kansas City are out of the running. But nothing is final until it’s announced and the transfer window doesn’t officially open until January 1st. Sporting are also tied to another Liga MX striker in the much more prolific (but possibly worse fit) in Mexico International Alan Pulido. Pulido is linked to the Chicago Fire, San Jose Earthquakes and Orlando City SC as well.
As of today there is just one striker on Sporting KC’s roster — Erik Hurtado. He was the backup to Krisztian Nemeth in 2019. Nemeth was out of contract after the season and there has been no word that he’ll return.
A clarification on Krisztian Nemeth's contract: I and others had misreported that #SportingKC had a 2020 option. In fact he was simply out of contract. Sorry for any confusion.
— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) December 5, 2019
The Blue Testament will keep up with all the news and rumors (probably even the silly ones) as SKC are in need of at least one more striker, but probably two.