Update: No 'possibly' about it. Le Toux has been traded to Vancouver.
When news broke last week that Sebastien Le Toux was headed to England for a trial with Bolton the reaction was generally positive. Yes, there was disappointment, but Union fans were genuinely happy that the face of the franchise was being given an opportunity to play in one of the best leagues in the world.
Moreover, Union fans took solace in the fact that the Union would likely receive a hefty transfer fee in return for Le Toux's services, which, presumably, they'd reinvest in the club. However, as so often happens in world soccer, the transfer never materialized. The transfer with Bolton, that is.
Late Monday afternoon, multiple reports surfaced that the Union, faced with a glut of forwards on the roster, were in discussions to sell Le Toux to Vancouver. Kerith Gabriel of Philly.com and Scott Kessler of The Brotherly Game cited sources indicating talks between the clubs were ongoing. [Update: Sportsnet's Irfaan Gaffar is saying the deal appears done, and Seba is headed to Vancouver, per Ives Galarcep.]
I surmise that Union fans will be a bit less understanding of a Le Toux trade to Vancouver than they were the potential transfer to Bolton. It's one thing to see your team's most popular player move on to bigger and better. It's quite another to see him traded within the league.
The Le Toux rumblings came on the heels of the Union officially announcing that they'd released starting goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who is set to rejoin Deportivo Cali, the club with whom he started his professional career.
What does this mean for the Union? Well, Gabriel reports that the Union are keen to secure a permanent transfer for Roger Torres from America de Cali. I don't have a good sense as to how much that would cost, but the Union would have some serious coin at their disposal by releasing Mondragon and trading Le Toux.
Their combined 2011 guaranteed compensation totaled $575,666.67. Factor in the cash sure to come back from Vancouver in any Le Toux deal and you've got money to play with.
The Union have had two All-Stars in its short two-year existence. One (Mondragon) is already out of the door. A second (Le Toux) may not be far behind.
If the Le Toux trade does go down then March 31st should be an interesting day - the Union are scheduled to host Vancouver at PPL Park.
Photo Credit: Kelvin Kuo, US-Presswire
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