SoccerWise - MLS Soccerwise | Lewandowski Joins Chicago, Griezmann Arrives & MLS Is Back

Episode Date: July 14, 2026

MLS is back! After a month away for the World Cup, David Gass and Tom Bogert reunite to catch you up on the biggest stories shaping the second half of the MLS season. From Robert Lewandowski's blockbuster move to the Chicago Fire to Antoine Griezmann's arrival, and other major transfer news across the league to help you get you ready for MLS's return.0:00 Intro & Programming Update6:23 MLS Standings Check-In8:25 Robert Lewandowski Joins Chicago Fire16:32 Duncan McGuire Traded to Houston20:55 Antoine Griezmann Arrives in Orlando23:32 Allan Saint-Maximin To Charlotte30:51 Sporting KC's Ambitious Summer36:56 LA Galaxy, DC United & San Jose Moves43:37 NYCFC & James Sands Is Back47:26 Jim Curtin Era Begins in Austin

Welcome, everybody, back to Soccer-wise. MLS conversation for the first time in a month. David Goss and Tommy Scoops with you as we are ready for the disgusting habit that we cannot get away from. Major League Soccer is back coming out of the biggest soccer tournament in the history of the world. And it comes back with a bang. We'll take it from here. Canadian Class C kicking off on Thursday night. Four games on Thursday in Major League Soccer.

A strong Friday. El Traffico and Nashville, who are the number one team in the Eastern Conference returning to the field. So we're going to get you up to speed on everything that you may have missed and you need to know. We're going to talk through the biggest storylines

that have happened over the last month. And Tom, we're just going to be back together, baby. This makes you so happy, David Goss. Just seeing your face, hearing your voice, loving everything that you guys are doing. But I like just talking to you, talking about soccer at our little corner of the world. I got to tell you, man, there's a moment I got worried.

You're out here. you're breaking international geopolitical stories out of Seattle and it's like Tom went big time Tom Tom's known now he's no longer part of my little corner of the world Tom is he's shams

none of that I think it was impossible to not talk about Trump and the whole baller and stuff because Trump made it about himself when it wasn't surprise surprise everybody he made it about himself and took credit when it wasn't and like

I so, so deeply reluctantly, but he have to do it. It's part of this story. And like, I'm looking at these, like, I don't know if their bots are real people. The line is so thin these days. It's just like, wow, like this guy's like talking about Trump to try to make himself relevant.

I was like, brother, you don't know the half of how much I don't want to be doing this. Right? Like, I'm not stretching for this. I'm like, this is, you have to do it. It's the hand off. It's either that or you drop the ball. You fumble. Like, can't happen.

Go through the A gap. NCA 27's back. Can't wait to be back in the locker room. with those young men. But yeah, that was, I didn't love that. That was, that was the craziest part of the World Cup, I will say, from a personal experience. Those, the Sunday morning, July 5th,

heading, getting to train, heading towards U.S. training when the ballergan story is breaking and would dominate for the next 36 hours or ever long until kickoff and then obviously beyond. That was one hell of a whirlwind, but I will say, gosh, if you were to ask me and I have been asked us, you know, what was your favorite part about covering the world?

Couple was your favorite part. And I was like, it's interesting. There's a lot of great stuff for me, though. Game four and game five of the NBA final. Boom. Rings culture, baby. It's all about the rings. Listen, Donovan Mitchell's a good player.

Does he have a title? It's not the only thing that matters in life is having titles. We are back. Over, over under. What was that? Two minutes into the show? I don't have a time about. The under tickets all collect,

all, all, I think part of the reason we didn't get there quicker is Doyle's not with us. So Doyle will be back, though. Here's our scheduling notes. We're coming out of the World Cup. We're going to be straight back in because games are happening, and we know how much everyone cares about this,

and we care about it too. So next Monday, we will have our first live show Monday morning, which is our weekly show where we recap everything that happened amongst the MLS weekend. Now it's a weird week because there's a few weekend games and then there's midweek games because, of course, why would Major League Soccer make anything simple or make anything make sense.

But we will have that show coming out of the games for you on Monday. There's a full slate of games on Wednesday. We'll recap all of that for you on Thursday. So every week we're going to still have our Monday, Thursday, MLS shows. Jill Lloyden has joined Jordan Angeli. They are doing our Tuesday NWSL show right now. Jill's going to continue with us for a little while. And then I'm going to step back in now that we're coming out of the World Cup

and get to talk NWSL with them. We are going to be adding a couple shows. Every single week as well. We will have a special USM&T look-ahead show that's coming out this week along with Matt Doyle, where we look forward over the next four years and the future of the national team program from a U.S. point of view.

And then we will continue to do more U.S. coverage coming out of the World Cup, as well as some interview stuff. So we've got plenty of coverage for you. We're very proud of the work we do. If there's anything you'd like to see, feel free to shoot us a message. It's been awesome watching the Discord pop off

throughout the World Cup. Everyone on Blue Sky that's been sort of messaging at us has been great as well. And we're really excited to be back into our little corner of the world. And we hope new people come in with us and want to enjoy this. You know, I've said over and over, the number one part of Major League Soccer and NWSL that's successful is the in-game experience. So if you've been watching the World Cup and you're new and you think you want to be

interested in this, get to a game, get to a game locally. And I promise you no one will cover this sport in this region better than we do. So we appreciate you coming. if you've got friends who have enjoyed the World Cup and are asking what's next, please send them our show. And then first touch, we'll continue covering the global game for us as we've crossed it over for the World Cup and then we will sort of uncross it as we go forward into everything. But as I said, we're going to talk MLS here.

We're going to talk about the biggest storylines because we haven't been on to talk about a lot of these, even though we've all been thinking about them. So we'll talk Levendowski. We'll talk Griseman's final arrival, the news around Allen St. Maxim, finally joining. and then some of the other big moves that have happened, as well as some coaching positions that have been turned on. And then next week, we'll start to dig into the games more and we'll react to the games we saw and help preview on the weekend.

But Tom, I put together the list. I tried to go back and remember mainly I just skimmed your social media and there's a lot of other BS. I sit through in your social media as I try and find the news. I'm like, oh, I'll just skim Tom's socials. No way, buddy. Oh, really? Soorloft called Sorloff's number as he dribbles down the field.

Come on, that was a good tweet. You pushed it. Yeah, that was a good one. But I put down a list of stuff. You filled it in for me. And you came back around to starting with Robert Lewandowski, signing with Chicago. And even a little precursor to that just to refresh ourselves because Goss and I were looking at each other. I think, again, two of the people, literally two of the most plugged in people to Major League's

in the world. And I think if you made us blind right down what the standings are in each conference, we wouldn't have done well. So I'm sure the people listening would agree. I'll at least just do the top four in East conference. In the east, Nashville first, Miami second, Chicago third, New England, a surprise fourth.

And then in the West, it's first place, Vancouver, San Jose. They are tied on points on 32, but Vancouver has a tiebreaker at the moment. Then is Real Salt Lake and Dallas, as your top four is in each conference. Nashville leading the supporter shield race on 33 points. but again, Vancouver and San Jose on 32, Miami on 31, and teams have played between 14 or 15 games.

There's a lot of twists and turns to go. And the standings got, of any of those eight, was there a big shock even after you already looked at the standings and then hearing it out loud? So the biggest shock was in perfect MLS fashion, not every team has played the same amount of games. Like you went into a six-year plan determining when you were going to take your break

and you couldn't get everyone on 15 games, which is like chaotic. and Seattle have played the least because, remember, they got kicked out of their stadium because of the World Cup. So they're on 13 games played. So they have an extra game to play. But I think as you look through it, honestly, Chicago may have been as shocking as anyone how high they are. New England are really sitting within three points of a couple different teams a little bit lower. I think I had Nashville winning MLS Cup before the season started. Obviously, we've lived the San Jose thing for a little while. And I had big expectations around Dallas. So that one's a little bit less surprising. So for me, me, Chicago being where they are where it still feels like, and this is part of the Levantowski signing one is it still feels like they have levels to get to, but then also they've now thrown a curveball themselves into their own team that's technically done well. Yeah, so let's talk about it. Hugo Kuyper's is the golden boot leader right now. Hugo Kuyper's was wearing the number nine

shirt this season. Well, Robert Lewandowski is wearing that jersey now. I believe Kuyper's picked 9-9, which I love. I thought that was a really good play by him. But Robert Levin-Dovendoski is joining the club and they're going to be playing four four two as long as as Hugo Kuyper's is still on this team and I guess I'll start on that side first I think it's possible that both these players can play together right Goss like these are two really good players they have some overlapping skill set but you know I think that at the very least you give it a roll of the dice I don't think that you trade or transfer or cash for Hugo Kipers without at least letting letting it see what it's like and also the other side

of this goss is let's say you trade Kipers and And let's say Kuiper's demands it. He hasn't. I want to be clear. But let's just say he goes, all right, like I'll go, I've disrespected or this isn't going to work,

whatever. If Robert Lewandowski at 38 years old or whatever he is, who is their backup center forward if he, if he can't play literally every minute? But it's Major League Soccer. You have X salary cap. You can't afford to spend big on a backup because you have to fill the rest of the spots. He's,

they're going to play four for two. I get that. No, no, I understand that. But my point is like, that's the scenario you've, left yourself in. Right. The question is, can you build a good enough starting 11 having spent

what, $25 million at the center forward position? Is there enough resources in it on the rest of the team to make it good enough to make that worth it? Because bringing Levindowski in is you have to be an MLS Cup contender over the next 18 months, right? And they are. I think. I think you feel, yeah, I don't know that I feel great about that. So I agree that I think they can play together. Again, it's just are you maximizing either of them? And if you're not, are you good enough compared to some of the other teams? Right. So for me, I would like, listen, if, if whether it's St. Louis, whether it's somebody in Europe, whether it's, I don't know,

Houston, maybe before they signed obviously, Duncan McGuire, but I don't know why St. Louis is, just insert any team in the league, maybe Orlando, if they opened a D.P spot. They, they had registered interest in the winter in Kuyper's when the, when this was all breaking that it was possible at Lone Dawson coming. Whether it's a real salt lake if they sell something, insert any MLS team, whatever offer you're getting for Hugo Kuyper's tomorrow. Yeah.

It's still going to be there on August 30th or at least. For sure, for sure. Watch it for a little bit and see how it feels. Yeah. The other, the knock on effects that I'm curious of is what does Inkerdoggle and Bamba look like in a more true 442? Right.

Rather than whatever hybrid that they had been playing with the possibility, like trying to see what it would look like before Lovanski comes to it. Because that's more defensive work for both of the, those guys. For sure. I think it should fit both of their attacking sensibilities, which is creation for that center forward spot. And the question's going to be that front four as they put pressure on opposition and as they try and set up defensively, like, okay, where do we want to push the ball and what do we want to do? How much work there will be in there. I think Khyber's is one where it's like, he obviously makes sense everywhere because he's really good at what he does.

but there's some teams where you're like this would be a shoe in move to make and I don't know like you're not going to get a better guarantee right for the money you're going to spend there's no better guarantee than Hugo Kuyper's coming over yeah he's literally particularly for scotally literally leading the league and goals and that's why I think that like we may maybe we talked about this a little bit like dorks like we haven't talked like they freaking signed robin them dowsy like that's awesome like I mean first and foremost scored a ton of goals for Barcelona over the last few years, including last year, even when he wasn't playing the same amount of minutes.

We've seen this, I know the MLS has evolved in a lot of different ways, but we've seen this profile, look, a legendary in the case of like Zlatani-Bahamovich or where MLS was, like, Robbie Keene in Europe wasn't legendary, but he was very good. A deedier drug about legendary. Like, these are the guys who come to MLS, even if it's the end of their career, the age. Well, Thomas Mueller is another one right now for Vancouver. By the way, Vancouver, Chicago

should be Lohendowski's debut. That is the first game. Well done by the schedule makers. I'm going to think that they had an idea that if Chicago was going to sign them, that this would all be when it would happen. And man, I hope that they're both available and fit ready to go for that game.

Rooney's the big comp to me because Rooney came in and was asked to do more than just be a true center forward. Yeah. Which we knew he was capable of, but not at that level. And then it's like, this is a world-class,

player and so everything they do can be world class if they put their mind to being a part of it. And I think that's where Levindowski dropping in, creating chances, you know, probably being the one that drops off the front line as kind of pushes things. It's not his profile to a T, but he's going to be one of the best in the league when he does those things if he cares about it because his freaking Robert Lewandowski. Yeah, I'm really excited to see it and off the field stuff like this, Chicago. the market and the fans, like they've been energized by re-energized by the way the team has played since Greg Burrhalter has taken over. But particularly with the Polish connections to that city.

Yeah. I'm just really excited about this. And, hey, maybe it'll be a little bit awkward on the field. And listen, same thing with if it is. And I know that it's a tight window with Lone Dallas. It's absolutely this, the rest of this season, the sprint season, and then the next season, right? Like, so two years, you have three chances at the M.S. Cup. but if it doesn't work again the offers for kipers maybe they'll be a little bit

a couple million short than what they are now they will still be there on on january first so i think that's all the more reason why if i'm chicago i'm giving this every opportunity um but you know there are going to be clubs that test their resolve i know that for sure whether it's within the league and without the league like there are a lot of club circling all right we're waiting for his debut i saw him getting his visa earlier this week let's move to the next big story. Antron Griseman has arrived. He's become part of the PR Horse and Pony show for Major League Soccer to announce that they take it from here and that they are back and whatever else. It was a signing we already knew about, but now he's officially

involved and connected. Do you want to hear my rant about the PR thing? I would love to. So obviously, MLS is in, there's been failures over the last seven years to position Major League Soccer correctly for this World Cup. We don't have enough time. to go into all of them, and I would hope most people aren't that interested in most of it. Like, it's a lot of inside baseball stuff. But I have said over and over again, to me, the success of Major League Soccer is the in stadium experience and the fan experience. And what did people fall in love with at the World Cup?

They fell in love with the Dutch fans and the Algeria fans and the Cape Verde fans and the Haiti fans. And while it's not the same like for like, that would have been my promotional campaign back. And what I would have done is I would have had an allocation of money to every club in Major League Soccer to pay to travel fans for an away game in the opening two or three weeks and to trying to some extent say, you thought this was cool? Look at St. Louis fans invading Kansas City. We brought, you know, 200 St. Louis fans and they're marching through the streets and they're chanting and they're singing and they're going into the building. Look at Vancouver

fans traveling. Maybe not Vancouver because unfortunately we have no idea what their future looks like and I don't know how connected Major League Soccer is to that market and those fans. But that would have been my push is like you obviously didn't go out and sign the players from the World Cup. The games you play do not have the value of a World Cup and they don't have the resonance. I would have tried to replicate that to an extent and said, if you think this is cool, like this is the version that you can have close to home. Shockingly, no one asked me. It's like so weird.

I feel like I was in that meeting and I just got skipped over. And no one was like, oh, do you have a way for us to spend $5 million on fans? And I would have said yes. but no one asked me. Okay, let's go to Orlando now. We sort of mused how it would all fit together. Duncan McGuire is the one who is out. He is headed to Houston.

It is $2.4 million in GAM, which was $1.25 in real gam with the potential of a 1.15 in add-ons, which is a pretty huge number for a guy who hasn't played a ton for Orlando. Yes. So let me start with first and foremost. I think that Duncan McGuire is going to be an awesome fit in Houston. I think he's going to score a lot of goals.

I think this is a really good acquisition. And I don't think, I don't think this is an overpay by Houston. I will credit Orlando, and this is probably because there was a lot of teams that wanted him. Philadelphia Union were one of them, and there were a few others.

I believe St. Louis, in the past, there have been, you know, Cincinnati called again. This wasn't active, but that was in the past. He's had a lot of Real Salt Lake as a team that really likes him. There's a lot of teams, whether it was right now or in the past,

that wanted Dunkle McGuire. McGuire has been slowed by injuries over the last 18 months. And if you're on the other end negotiating with Orlando, you're probably pointing to that and being like, wait, how much do you want?

So I think 1.25 million plus another 1.15 million gammon add-ons, it's definitely not a cut rate deal for a player who, I think we all assumed was going to get moved this summer. He's on a long-term contract with helps, but it's not like it's a, again,

it's also not an overpay, but it's also not like a crazy, like team friendly deal. All of those circumstances, like a few things can be true. I think it's a really good trade for Houston. And if you have the money, you go do it.

Guess what? Good players cost money. Guess what? Goals cost money. But Orlando, I would have assumed this would have been a little bit less. So I think well done by Orlando to make sure that the market was engaged, that this wasn't just one team.

I know, I know McGuire wanted to be in Houston also. Yeah. Or like as far as the teams that were interested in them. And I really think it's going to be a great fit. and I know we're talking about Orlando here, but quickly for Houston, there are a number of clubs in South America

trying to get his ego Ponsight from them. So Duncan McGuire is the starting center forward, and they will have a DP spot opener, however they want to do it. So that's the Houston side of it, but back to Orlando, we're talking about him in Greasman. No, no, no, I think that's fair.

I think if you pull me back in and you say, it's 1.25 unless it goes well, right? Which I always forget to remember with guaranteed verse. It's like, if it goes well, then you're happy to pay the extra. Oh, my God. So the risk is 1.25, which is reasonable for a guy who's a good to high level MLS starter. And then the potential is if he outperforms that and therefore you start adding the other stuff,

now you're happy to pay two to two point five for a true starting center foe or a guy who scores goals. The other piece with him is he's on $900,000, which is a lot for a guy who has five goals in the last two years and has had injuries. So that's the like little piece of the risk. But I like it in the concept of if you're not 100% sure what's going to happen with Ponce, okay, you don't know if you can get off him. So you're not going to chase a DP to replace him because you're not in a good enough

confident spot. This is the best situation you could find. And if he plays well enough, now you can use the DP spot somewhere else. And you don't have to replace the center forward position. And I would assume if healthy in the right setting, and I think the wide players in Houston are good for this, Duncan McGuire has 15 goals score every season in MLS. And that's all you need from that position. Yeah, and and their bet is around like Bogus was the big like big money acquisition.

Jack McGlynn is obviously a really, really important player. Guillermo has been good. The U22 is like a Nali. So the idea is that you're center forward. It doesn't have to be lovedoski or it doesn't have to like this is the big of the white caps of Brian White. like this is the Brian White. And that Brian White weirdly like one of the most valuable contracts in the league, he makes more than a million.

But for what he's done at that club for five, six years or however long it's been, like, he's been extremely valuable. So like paying that contract, like you said, if it goes well as they expected to as I expected to, it's going to be, it's going to be well worth it. Loki, really, I'm optimistic about the dynamo over the second half of the season. And it's an exciting time. It's like a pretty pressured time because if they kind of take a step back, then you kind of hit a crossroads.

But like, again, I think that this is going to be, I think this is going to be very positive. And I really like his fit there. But back to Orlando. This is going to be a useful amount of allocation money at a position where Grisman comes in. Yes, he and Duncan McGrath could have played together, but Justin Ellis has emerged as a serious, like, starter level player. You have Tiago, the U-22 initiative forward who can play wide, can play through the center. We've been hosting with Eric for last week, so let me say it correctly before.

T'noggle. Fucking gross Portuguese. So with all those options, this reminds you of when they transferred Ramiro Enrique, what was it this time last year? Like they got a good deal on that. And part of it was because you had Duncan McGuire, you had, you know, they've had enough players.

This is, yeah, this is going to make a lot of sense for them. Marco Pazolich is a player that there's been interest in Europe. He could move this summer. I don't know if I would say it's likely or not, but all that is to say is if I would build the Zima Ranguizman and Martino Heda,

unless O'Hada says, I want to go, or if a crazy offer comes in. And then you have optionality. Do you want to do the 4-4-2 where Griesman is like a free second forward? Do you want Griesman to be the center forward and like a false nine-ish role where he has a lot of freedom and you have like inside forward side. Wingers? Like if like there are a lot of things that could happen for this team this summer and I think they're in a very good spot. If if they want to be qualifying or at least challenging, they're four points off the playoff line. That's not insurmountable. There are a lot of questions. They still have an interim head coach on a full-time head coach.

but I think I'm excited for where things could go for Orlando, but obviously they don't have the big, the luxury of a whole lot of time. Shout out to my guy, Mark Spillane, who every coach that got fired post World Cup was like, congratulations, I'm being announced as the New Orlando City Head Coach. I was here for that. I would say with Orlando, I think there's three and a half starting spots in the attack that they're looking to fill.

And if Poslitch is there, then Poslodge O'Heda and Griesman are the three. Yeah. And Duncan McGuire was too much to spend on the half slash the fourth when you need it. And to your point, Justin Ellis has filled that spot fine. Go use that money somewhere else, whether it's in center mid, whether it's along the back line. That's more important to them. It never made sense to me just to invest the amount they did in Duncan McGuire to have him be a part-time starter alongside Greisman if and when it fit. And now with what Ellis has given them. And as you said, Tiago, the money they've already spent. There's probably enough there. So this move always made sense. I think you kind of put it in the right. light. Like it's probably an B plus move for both teams, which is not a bad thing to have. And now they both move forward. Let's go. Let's stay in Florida. Let's talk Casamiro.

It's still not official. At time of recording. I kind of assume that it's going to be official by the time this is released. It has to be. Actually, unless Miami don't play. Coming up, maybe. Yeah, actually, no, that makes sense. Miami don't play because the expectation was DePaul and Messi would be unavailable if

they played this week. And that turns out to be so maybe it doesn't need to be official by the time that this is being listened to, but the deal's done. Like it just needs to be announced. All right. And then the big news that that dropped today, Alan St. Maxime becomes the newest MP in Charlott. You left a couple letters off that.

Sorry. Did I spell it wrong? I helped you in the Google Doc that we're working off of. And I refused to read it. Yeah. 29-year-old. French player coming over, he played for Club America two years ago after a long career in Europe, I think most famously connected to Newcastle, then spend some time in the Middle East and out in Turkey.

That time in Club America went very poorly. A lot of it was off field. He ended up leaving. And the reports, when he did leave was that his daughter was racially abused in school and he didn't want to live in Mexico anymore. And when that happened, I put out on social and I'm a L.S. team should step in here. Like this is a player who's shown a willingness to come across the Atlantic and play in

a different environment. And he signed for Club America because that's a big team and that's the value that they saw him in. Afterwards, he went back and played at Lens for a little bit, 10 appearances to close out 2026. And now he becomes, I assume, the Wilfred Zaha replacement. Yeah, absolutely. Three goals and three assist and we've gone in 400 minutes. So that's always nice to see him kick it at a high level for a good team in France.

and I figured when he left the Club America and went back to Lawns, it was like, all right, he's not coming back to this side of the hemisphere. Like, and I don't blame him particularly with what happened to his family. So, well done to Charlotte for getting this deal done. 29 years old, this guy is going to give a lot of the fun, creative unpredictability that Zah did. And at 29 years old, he's going to have more in his legs and he should be able to put more pressure more consistently,

maybe than Zaha did. And not to just boil it down to like, Zaha, what we loved about him, his whole career is how unpredictable and how fun of a dribbler he is, more than anything else. Like, that goes along with the goals and the assist. St. Maxman has that quality himself and he has for a long, long time in Europe and elsewhere.

So I think the most basic and inconsequential to winning, but to us as fans, this is going to be one of the most fun players to watch, or potentially, I should say, one of the most fun players to watch in the league because of what he can do with the ball at his feet. And he pairs that with goals and assists. He joined Newcastle for $20 million.

And then Al-Ali in 20-23 for 30 million euros or something to that effect. Like, this is a guy who's moved for some big money throughout his career. He's also bounced around because he's played for like Monaco, Nice, Newcastle, Ali, Fenerbache, Club America, Lons, Charlotte. And that's a little bit of a worry. look man if he comes here and even if it ends up only being for 18 months or maybe he finds his long term home but this is a big signing he'll be one of the more expensive players in the league i'm assuming yeah definitely not top five but i would five to 15 i feel pretty confident about and this is a big signing by charlotte who they're not done this this summer leal abata i'm expecting him to leave i would open another db spot if they want to use it um so i don't know what else comes but even if even if nothing else comes i i think that they are better now than they were the day of

before Zaha said that he was leaving. Like, I think this is an improvement on Zaha. I think, I think Maxime, I think what we saw in England was he's got a little more physicality to his game, which Zaha had enough at that level, but when Saha has slowed down as his career has gone along,

he didn't have enough then for it to be a difference maker. And I think Maximin, as you said, a little bit younger, has probably some more spark in his legs. But even if that goes away, I think he has other ways to manage the game and to dominate his opposing defender and connect to the game. And so I think one of the issues with Zaha was they started

to isolate him out wide. He didn't win his battle often enough out there. And then I think Maximine is comfortable coming inside and connecting. So the hope is all the little pieces you were missing with the Zaha move that elevated it, you're able to bring in here. I think it's fair for people to be questioning because Charlotte's had a real hit or miss record on their DPs. And sometimes it feels like they shop for names more than for profile and for quality. And we'll see when we get the final numbers, which I think the biggest knock on this might end up being, well, what else could you have done at that price?

But I don't think it'll be that he's not successful. I just think it'll be, well, if you're paying him, because my assumption is if he was at Club America, he was probably on outside of Messi, the largest contract on the continent. You think so? And I mean, who's paying more for who? Maybe Correa was on more at Tigris,

but my assumption is if he went to Club America, coming from where he came from is the most expensive team in the league and to get him to come meant they had to offer him a pretty big deal. So I like I think he'll end up five or 10 major league soccer. That's big. Like you have to be one of the five or ten best players to make that worth it unless you play for Atlanta United. So I think that that will be the question mark in the end, but I agree with you. They're better today than they were before he left. I will say if they open up a TP spot, I think this is a Khyper's team. I like Toklamati. He's all my golden blue team. like Archie Goodwin, but they have always wanted a true finishing center forward, and they have built these attacking players around it.

And I think that this is one where he could fit, and they're clearly a spot that's willing to pay. I like that shot. I hadn't even considered them. That would be super interesting. I think it's more likely that they'll go with like a chance creator. But again, like because Pepio, he's like a combo forward. Like he can do goals and assist.

And like, I think that if they don't. The Rudy gave Major League Soccer. If they had a center forward, then I think he'll go into much more chance creation mode. Partly this year, it seems like he's had to take the burden of, all right, I need to finish plays as well as creating them. So that also helps with the way that you can build a team that, again, you could sign, I think a right winger would be the most logical if they do move on from Abbottah soon, hopefully, and be able to get a new DP in. But like, because a BL could play there inverted and then maybe you could do a 10. like there is this isn't a finished product though it's a team that that's pretty solidified like they could take another swing and I don't know it's good they've got an all-star at centerback

in Timmy do and I'm not excuse me and somebody that is at the skills challenge which when I think about skills challenges I think about Tim Reed skills baby and Charlie will be hosting the all-star game coming up in a week or two okay those are the big four stories we want to start out with there's some earth-shattering news and some other spots as well. Let's start in Kansas City. The potential around Mosala, I think, is, you know, the biggest story outside of Lewandowski that you've reported. But whether Mosala happens or not, there's other,

there's been a lot of work done in Kansas City. But let's start with the potential on, you know, a legend. I don't know if you know he played for Liverpool. A little small club called Liverpool, mate. He'll never walk alone. So, is that a Corningsburg? It's a Liverpool when they won their first league tie. title, the first Premier League title.

Little Champs if Carlsberg. Yeah, special edition. You're gonna shock on that on a special date. When Theo graduates high school, it's going to be worn. So with Mosala, from myself and Paul Tenore reporting, there have been preliminary conversations between Kansas City and Mosala's campus. They are the top MLS option if he comes. Sources believe that Mosala prefers to say in Europe at a,

high level, like, Champions League level club. And if he, so that, that is what people believe is his first priority. If not, he's open MLS, he's open Saudi. Goss, there is, we know that Saudi wouldn't get outbid by an MLS club for anybody of this ilk. I'm going to go ahead and assume if Mosala wants, it gets a deal maybe that he's interested in here. Would Saudi go to the most successful and most famous Muslim

player of all time. Either here's a blank check, write down the number that it would take, or, oh, are you getting 30 million from that team? Okay, we're going to quadruple that number. Here's the contract. So I wouldn't call this likely in any way. But that's because this is a legendary player. Like, it shouldn't be likely at this stage. So let's change the wording from likely to, this is real, right? SKC believes they have a change. and they're genuinely inside the framework of how they operate as a real club that's not based off pure oil pricing. They are trying to make this sign.

Correct. Correct. And the club's new majority owner, Peter Malook, has Egyptian roots. And he replied to me and Paul on Twitter, pretty much saying promises made are going to be promises kept. And that was in reference to the larger point here is this is going to be a very ambitious summer from Kansas City. I didn't doubt this team or this owner. But like in the past, when you buy a club or when you take over a majority,

you do the press conference and you say, I'm going to spend more than the previous owner. Well, when it's Houston under, I don't even remember the owner was. And then when it's Real Salt Lake under Deloy Hanson, well, guess what? Being the 29th highest spending team in the league is an improvement on previous. So sometimes there's a little creative, celebrations that a press company.

Yeah, I'm going to spend more. Okay, well, what does more mean for Kansas City? It's not that hard to spend more than what they have over the past 10, 15 years in terms of on the player acquisition. And I'll tell you what, like, when they lure David Lee, all the people I spoke to was like, no, like they're being serious. Like, David Lee wouldn't leave that job if he wasn't pretty much guaranteed a big, big war chest to spend from.

And beyond the real attempts at Sala, they are exploring more realistic deals. on a pair of DP wingers. One is Jan Goboho, who plays for FC Toulouse. Toulouse won 20 million. The other is Andre Louise. He plays for Olympiacos. The Greek media is reporting

that there's an $18 million bid for that player from Kansas City. So whatever the final numbers end up for one, both, or both of these players, there's a possibility they spend $40 million of $40 million in transfer fees this summer alone because they've got other players coming in as well,

including Moises Mosquera, 25-year-old Colombian centerback from Flores, who is the latest in their attempt to solve the Matt Beasler hole or Ikeparo Hall at centerback. And if he does it, this team, like, that's a huge, that is a cornerstone player for the team going forward for the next few years. It's the most legitimate attempt to 25-year-old Colombian centerback from Juarez, played in Portugal. I mean, his transfer value is rated between $2 million. This is not a guy on a free that we think might be able to fill the spot.

this is an attempt at bringing in a defender of the year candidate. So I respect that as a move. I think it's a move that needs to be made. I think you look at David Lee who's worked in clubs that built MLS Cup winners around Alex Collins, around, you know, Tiago Martins, like it has valued the centerback position to be elite for teams that can win. And this is one of the convos we've had over the last few weeks about League of X and the value of League of Mexico and the strength of it is, often it is South America.

international's between 25 and 32 that play at the non-DP spots that make the League of Exide stronger than MLS and this is like an attempt to get a guy like that before he's priced out because he's moved to Monterey or Tigress or Club America.

Exactly and so I think he's the biggest of the moves that are already done but they've signed a centerback from Israel. They've signed a left back from Shroomgras. I know that there's going to be more coming like we heavily criticize this team I think fairly early in the season because they didn't make these moves.

Yeah, but well, nobody's going to, nobody's going to remember how bad April was if these signings are right. And then they, they signed Caboho and Andre the Leeds. And if that happens, by the way, obviously Mono Garcia would have to leave because it's not going to be Daniel, this poor guy in just a hailstorm of sadness, but he's still scoring goals at this club. Could you imagine if he gets service again, right? So they've got, again, a couple building blocks. And that's the whole idea is this summer.

and if you're able to compete for the sprint season, I think that would be a win for this transitional year for Kansas City, but they are, I think, one of the most interesting teams to watch this summer because of what they're going to try to do. Who knows if that'll translate for the rest of 26th. We'll see another team that is one to watch this summer that is supposed to be, or not supposed to be,

aiming to make inroads for this season, not just for the future, the Galaxy. The Galaxy sold Gabriel Peck to Brazilian side of Cruzeiro for 12 million up front, plus 1.5 million ad on sources told me it's a club record fee. He was signed and he won newcomer the year, one MLS Cup, best 11,

and now he sold for a club record fee. Not bad, but they're going to be really busy. Like the galaxy have an open DEP spot. That speaks for itself. They're going to do more beyond that, but I just kind of want to start with, they've got an open DEP spot. And people were like, all right, is that where Sal is going?

Is that where Namar's going, right? Like that's the idea when the galaxy have this spot open. I think with the way Pecs last year and a half have gone without Ricky Pooge on the field, to make money off him is actually fairly impressive. Because I know coming out of MLS Cup, it was like, oh, of course you're going to make money. Like he's one of the best players in the league. We saw his limitations. He can't be the best player on a team.

So for the Galaxy to get out of that to be able to find maybe a player now. And my assumption is one who's a little bit older and more experienced, who can play both with Pooge and then maybe help you without him, that feels like a huge move for the galaxy. And so to make money off him still after the way he's played over the last year, feels like really, really good business for L.A. And also the best acknowledgement of like, we're not going to peak with Ricky Buz, not on the field.

So why don't we do the work now so that we're in the right spot when he gets here? That's a good way to put it. And they are going to sign a DP this summer is I feel really, really strongly about that. Mm-hmm. And who knows what happens with John Klaus is. his future in the interim he's injured but the expectation he's the expectation he'll be back this season but uh like and he's a good center he's a dp level center forward he's not a crazy game changer but he's lived up to the dp tag since he's got to the galaxy beyond the injuries but

that's him being on the field um i don't know how many other starters are going to try to get through but um quavos was sold to santo's laguna that'll give them some salary cap flexibility as well um just definitely keep an eye on the galaxy okay uh DC you night has made a couple moves we got the official news while recording this nathan ordas um the exact number is what two million uh north of two million in a cash for it is 2.375 million so 2.4 million plus another 500 000 in add-ons and lafc will retain a sell on i really like this gosh yeah these are the moves i've talked about over and over he is not going to play at his peak for lafc because they refuse to give him consistent time even when he's earned it i think the value for

both clubs is a huge amount of money for LAFC and then potential sell on if he plays well and gets moved again. He's an El Salvadorian international coming to the biggest El Salvadorian community in the country. And for DC, they get younger. They still get more affordable even with the cash fare because he's not on a huge deal. And they've got the time to let him play and sort of show that he can be a difference maker. I am not the biggest Nathan Ordass fan. I don't think his future is and I'm less also or anything like that. But I think he can be a good player in this league. I think he fits this team pretty well.

I might be a little bit higher on his ceiling or his, I think you are his ability. I think he could be a difference. On a U22 deal as well, I think he's a difference maker and a larger conversation about the U22 initiative for D.C. United for a team that has, and this isn't fair to do to the current regime, because there's been a lot of different regimes at D.C.

that have missed on signing. So, but U-22 is the, when you hit it, it's really valuable. But the hit rate is low, particularly when you're going abroad. You know this guy's at the bare minimum, a good MLS starter. And you have upside there. So spending the money to put him in a U-22 slot, I think is very smart by this team. He fits what Renee Viler, how he wants to play. It's good.

Things are going to be a little, because they have a couple guys. It's like, so Ty Briebo, center forward. and he can press, you're running behind. They have a, like, Louis Muntino is a little positionless. Like, if he needed to be a nine, I think he could be. If he wouldn't be like a traditional 10, can he play a little bit wide? And it's the same thing with Ordaz. He's like an inside forward, but you don't want him as a lone nine,

but maybe he could in a pressing system when Denny Bwanga is your winger. Like, there's a couple guys that it might not make the most sense when you're looking at it on our depth charts at soccer wise. And like, all right, I guess I'm putting him at right, Is that exactly where he's going to start? But I do like the combination of him and their two DPs in the attack. And then, you know, Peglo, Peglo is fine. Peglo is good.

There are other options, I think, with the team. And obviously very incomplete. Jackson Hopkins, who just got signed to a U-22 deal. Caden Clark is still there. There are Andre Dozel. He came from Portsman. That's a new central midfielder. There is, I don't know what exactly to expect from this team,

but I really like this Ordaz signing by them. Gabriel Perani going to San Diego, smart move from San Diego, which is they'll just take anyone who can trap and move the ball and they'll figure their system can get the best out of him. Staying in California, San Jose, they made a goalkeeper change. Danielle is headed to FC Dallas for somewhere between what, 700 to $1,000 in allocation money split over the next few years with some potential. And then they've signed Angus Gunn, who was Scotland starter at the World Cup to come in and fill his spot. Daniel has not recovered from the injuries the way you'd like. So San Jose makes an improvement. And I think for Dallas bringing an experienced goalkeeper in because Coletti has struggled

to elevate to the senior to the full time number one, probably a good move for both teams. Can't say that I know a ton about Angus Gunn as we get ready there. He, the San Jose tried to sign him in the winter and they thought they had a deal. And it just kind of fell apart at like literally like the last step. And then Gunn goes and plays for Scott. I don't know the World Cup. They kept their interest.

Now he's a free agent, and I think that helped. I think he was on the books at Nottingham Forest. You might be on the books at Nottingham Forest. I don't know at this point, but it took one person out of one party out of the transaction, and they were still there. And, like, they like Daniel. And that's why I was kind of surprised that they were chasing Angus Gunn. I think that that's part of why Daniel at the end of the summer is like,

I don't want to leave or I'm ready to go because you clearly aren't committed to me. So screw you. now he's in Dallas. And then NYCFC. We talked about this, I think, more on socials, but James Sands signed a contract extension coming back from his loan at St. Pauli. And Bernie Chiorre has signed

as a designated player for this team. It feels like the Sands move is he tried to go to Europe to make the World Cup. It didn't work out perfectly. A lot of that was injury-based. And now he's sort of ready to come back and be the man at NYCFC for the foreseeable future, which I think is.

super promising for NYCFC. Yeah, also, Benny Traori, he was at Basel. He's a winger, but he could play through the center. This was a profile they were looking for, somebody that if we want him to play as a nine, he can, but when Alonzo Martinez comes back,

which should be some point in the fall, he's like, they didn't put him on season any injured list, like they expect him back this season. So then when Alonzo Martinez is backing in, your three best attacking players are your new DP, Benny Traori, Nico Marcotte Fernandez and Alonzo Martinez and that's as high levels

and attack this side of Lino Messi in the league that's got some real real promise obviously remains to be seen exactly what Benetford Roy looks like in this league but I was talking to a European scout because NYCFC first tried to sign him before Musa Silla in the winter and a scout was like

they didn't get it done and like there's no chance that he'll go to MLS in the sun like there's just going to be too many other offers I guess the offers didn't come or maybe NYCFC to their credit stuck on it but one of the scouts that that I trust was like all right like this is like he's like I never thought he would

they would have gotten him to come to an MLS club so that's encouraging and then on James Sands this happened before he came back from Rangers signed a new contract gave him a new number did the whole and like I loved it then and I love it now but maybe I'm just trying to be a little bit cautious that

in 12 months maybe another German team will come and there'll be another loan with a buy option but listen if he's in your midfield he's one of the best defensive midfielers in the league yeah my question is at 26 does he say to you know there was a clear drive to try and make the 2026 world cup

roster which is super understandable was a once in a lifetime situation and I think he clearly felt he couldn't make the jump over other guys he was comparable to while playing for NYCFC so hence the move to St. Pauli now he's 26

there's not this one loom thing to push for. They're going to open a new stadium, you know, next season. This one feels more now, I say this all the time. Like these contract extensions are get paid now and also team gets control ability to manage that transfer process in the future. Like normally it doesn't mean they're staying. This one to me does feel like he's staying.

And it's like the acknowledgement of the captain of this team on the first day in the new building, right? Maxi Morales is probably never going to play for this team anymore. or like be the face of the team going forward. And I think they're in a pretty good spot. There's questions where all this stuff lines up together. Talas Magno is still there. But overall, I think NYCFC, they've had a good month or two coming into this.

Matt Turner as well worked to make the World Cup roster, ends up playing in the one game. His contract has been picked back up on loan for New England. And there's some potential other moves they're trying to make around Jack Harrison. Let's finish out. Portland don't have a coach right now. We expect it to be done before they keep back. Yeah, before they get back off for the season.

So we'll talk about that one more on the next show. And I hope that I will have broken the news by the time you're listening to this. So you're either laughing at me right now because somebody else did or I didn't or you're like, wow. I love how vulnerable you're being, Tom, by putting yourself out there. Let's finish up with Austin FC. Jim Curtin was announced as the new head coach. We're still waiting on a sporting director.

obviously in the order this was hired and with his seniority the expectation is Jim Curtin will be heavily involved in the sporting decisions. It is a fact. I can say that. But there's no title connected to it, correct? There might be. So for Jim, Jim Curtin does not want

to be supporting director. He does not want to be CSL plus head coach. What he wants is from my understanding sporting director he can trust that isn't going to just string him along on one year contracts and then fire him after bed season and has a good worker like I in Philadelphia that it went poorly at the end I know I've spoke about my reporting on that

um so listen anybody that wants the Austin FC sporting director job if you do not have Jim Curtin's trust you are not getting that job is I cannot say it in any more clear terms than that and I think his impact on it is seen in the fact that they traded and without a sporting director Danny Pereira to Montreal for 2.1 million in gam at a minimum with a sell-on and potential 500k more and he had 165 appearances as one of the all-time leaders in Austin history. This is obviously a big move to make and therefore, one, you assume Jim Curtin

was heavily involved in. Be careful about that because payouts from Philadelphia contract, so I don't know if he was or wasn't because that might be a breach of the buyout. So who knows? But Danny Pereira, man, I thought he was going to be a foundational piece

in the next era. under Jim Curtin and everybody else that's going to be there. 2.1 million game, man, I get it. I get why they did it. I just really rate this player and it's a somebody I'd want to build. I wouldn't, I again, I thought it was going to be Pereira and Wolf in a new team under a new structure with the possibility to be the pillars. And then you bring in a few more like you have Fekundo Torres and Brandon Vasquez

and maybe Uzzi leaves and you bring in a new DP. I was really looking forward to seeing what these players look like in a new system and a new team under Jim Curtin. but Danny Pereira like Montreal kept up in the offer until clearly too much too much to say no to Jim Curtin will step in and try and turn things around in Austin

there's a lot of work to do down there they've signed a Polish winger as well in Shemishaw I wrote this down Paeta honestly well the way he pronounced that is not the way I pronounced it I went based off Shemichov for Niskevsky which is not how you saw we got that one down thank you thank you to

I think we might be wrong on that one, but shout out to Austin for both putting a pronunciation guide and a link to him saying it sounded like the link happened in baggage at the airport, but I respected being done either way. Austin feels like they're going to be a fun one to follow for the close of the season. Jim Curtin sort of gives them MLS experience in a way they've never had before from that leadership. So a pretty big move for them and for him. Okay.

we've got the U.S. special coming up later this week as well. NWSL show coming back out. We're still doing our daily World Cup show. We'll be doing postgame shows around the semifinals. We'll do pre and post game around the final as well. First, such has a ton of content around what's the future for some of these big teams across the different federations. And we'll continue to dive into some of the great global soccer stories there. And we're back, baby.

MLS is back. Thank you, world. We'll take it from here. All right. We'll talk to you all again. Very, very soon.