Today the Rapids sent two international slots to Chicago for $650K of GAM this year and another $200K of GAM next year. This is the most ever(?) paid for an international slot. So good business, but it ties our hands in the number of reinforcements we can bring it. By my count we have 6 internationals right now:
Rafa Navarro
Hamzat Ojediran
Rob Holding
Lucas Herrington
Alexis Manyoma
Ali Fadal
With two spots traded away that covers all 8 spots. Now Navarro or Fadal could be getting a green card, or the plan might be to loan Fadal to Rapids 2 this season, but as of right now it appears we have no room for any more internationals.
Which makes this rumor interesting, The Rapids are linked with Spanish center back Loic Williams, who currently plays for Granada in the Spanish Segunda Division. The catch is that Granada is fighting relegation and won't sell him until the summer window. By summer either one of those green cards may have come through, or Manyoma's loan will be up and if we don't buy him that spot will be free.
Williams just told 24 years old and has played his whole senior career in the Spanish lower leagues, amassing 95 appearances over the last 4 seasons for three different teams. Granada bought him for 600,000 Euros from Tenerife after they were relegated to the third division last year. The last player I can think of to come over from Segunda and make a solid career in MLS was Shaq Moore leaving Tenerife for Nashville in the summer of 2022 but its not something I've tracked closely either.
Right now the Rapids opening night lineup in Seattle in 19 days looks something like this:
Steffen
Cannon - Holding - Cobb - Vines
Ronan - Ojediran - Aaronson
Yapi - Navarro - Sealy
Which...isn't a MLS playoff-level starting XI. Not unless Matt Wells has really turned some players around.
I know its been a quiet offseason here, but its hard to have much to talk about when you look at this roster and the lack of action this offseason.
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