For fans of Major League Soccer, the offseason is entirely too long. It’s a point that Vancouver Whitecaps manager Marc Dos Santos was recently fined for expressing with some decidely colorful language.
“Players at the top level, they have three weeks, one month maximum, on break,” Dos Santos said. “I’m telling you, three months and a half of a break in a soccer season is Mickey Mouse. It’s amateur. It doesn’t happen in the world.”
The 2019 MLS Cup final was played on Nov. 10 and the 2020 season doesn’t begin until Feb. 29 — that’s a break of 3 months, 19 days. It is long, but I can also sadly confirm that this snow in Minnesota isn’t going anywhere.
So we’re left with nothing to do but feast at the table of transfer rumors, where our cup runneth over with tales of Chicharito. We haven’t had much to talk about so far with regards to confirmed moves — apart from the trades of Darwin Quintero (to Houston) and Darlington Nagbe (to Columbus) — but here are the 10 most hyped transfer rumors of the offseason so far.
Top MLS Transfer Rumors 2020
#1. Alan Pulido to the San Jose Earthquakes
The 28-year-old Mexico international has admitted that he’s “most likely” going to MLS, and the clubs that have been linked with him include San Jose, Orlando, Chicago and Kansas City.
Pulido is currently with Chivas Guadalajara, where he most recently finished as joint top-scorer in the Apertura season with 12 goals in 18 games. However, Chivas again missed out on the playoffs.
A move to San Jose would represent a reunion with former Chivas coach Matías Almeyda. The Quakes leading scorer last season was Chris Wondolowski, who scored 15 goals in 32 games, but he turns 37 in January.
#2. Luis Suárez to Inter Miami
Luis Suárez has always readily admitted that a club of Barcelona’s stature will not hesitate to replace him should age finally catch up. However, the 32-year-old continues to do the business at the Camp Nou: In 16 LaLiga/Champions League games this season, he’s scored 10 goals and provided two assists.
It all goes back to what international compatriot Nicolás Lodeiro said last month: “I think you need to convince Barcelona. (Suarez) wants to come to MLS. He is always asking me about the league. His dream was to play for Barcelona. He’s playing at a great level and he feels comfortable there. Sooner or later he’ll come to MLS”
At the moment, there’s no indication of this happening. But should Barcelona again fail to fulfill its Champions League ambition, there’s no telling what direction the club will take.
#3. Edinson Cavani to the LA Galaxy
With Cavani’s PSG contract expiring at the end of the season and the club eyeing a permanent deal for the red-hot Mauro Icardi, the 32-year-old looks primed for a summer move.
The Galaxy reportedly see him as the ideal replacement for the departed Zlatan Ibrahimović, but it’s also being reported that Cavani is looking for more than $11 million per year (Zlatan made $7.2 million last season).
#4. Cesc Fàbregas to the Montreal Impact
Thierry Henry’s appointment as manager of the Montreal Impact has triggered all sorts of French connections. The sexiest is 32-year-old midfielder Cesc Fàbregas making the switch from Monaco, where the former Arsenal captain has only started six matches this season despite the club being mired in 13th place.
However, Impact owner Joey Saputo has previously ruled out acquiring a player of Fàbregas’ stature after learning from the financial disaster of Didier Drogba’s signing back in 2015.
#5. Ignacio Fernández to the LA Galaxy
The 29-year-old Argentine has been instrumental in River Plate’s successive trips to the Copa Libertadores final, and it’s been reported that Galaxy coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto — a former teammate of his — wants him in Los Angeles. Inter Miami is also a rumored landing spot for the midfield engine.
#6. Mario Balotelli to the New York Red Bulls
The romantic return of Mario Balotelli to his hometown club Brescia has quickly turned sour, and the club’s owner has made it public that the striker will be allowed to leave for free in January.
The 29-year-old has two goals in eight appearances for Serie A’s worst team, and he’s now being linked with New York and Toronto. With Zlatan gone, the league could certainly use a headline generator like Super Mario.
#7. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to the Chicago Fire
This years marks the fifth straight offseason of Chicharito-to-MLS rumors, a tradition which dates back to Louis van Gaal showing him the door at Old Trafford before the start of the 2015-16 campaign.
Where would we be without this longstanding historical convention?
Well, there’s added legs to the rumor this time since Chicharito is older than ever (shocking!) but also struggling more than ever. After a couple underwhelming seasons with West Ham, the 31-year-old has only managed one goal in seven LaLiga appearances with Sevilla.
And Chicharito himself appears ready for a return to North America after a decade in Europe.
“Yes. Definitely,” Chicharito said with regards to an MLS move. “Look, I am always thinking about my future. I want to be as open as I can to any opportunity. MLS is a league that is improving. It is an opportunity.”
With the Fire looking to make a splash to coincide with a return to 61,500-seat Soldier Field, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer fits the bill.
#8. José Juan Macías to LAFC
J.J. Macías is the hottest prospect in Liga MX. The 20-year-old has scored 16 goals in his last 32 league appearances for León, and he’s scored four goals in only five appearances for Mexico’s senior side.
He ultimately wants to make the move to Europe, but he’s reportedly now deciding between three options: permanently signing with León, returning to his parent club Chivas or heading north to MLS.
#9. Brian Lozano to LAFC
Another LAFC rumor: Will Ferrell is ready to drop $12 million to prize Uruguayan attacker Brian Lozano away from Santos Laguna. The 25-year-old has been one of Liga MX’s best players over the past year, and he finished the Apertura with nine goals and seven assists in 17 games.
LAFC already has a pair of Uruguayans in Diego Rossi and Brian Rodriguez, and it’s not a bad strategy to just form an entire starting XI of La Celeste players.
#10. Franco Jara to Minnesota United
Minnesota fans will be relieved to know that Franco Jara is not Gonzalo Jara, the spelunker of both Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani’s private regions. Franco is a 31-year-old Argentine striker currently on the books at Pachuca, where he’s been a force since arriving in 2015.
He most recently finished Apertura play with eight goals in 16 matches, which is exactly the sort of return that Minnesota is desperate to add, especially since the club is moving forward without Darwin Quintero, Abu Danladi and — most likely — Ángelo Rodríguez.
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