August 02, 2016
For the second straight year, the Philadelphia Union are in advanced talks to bring Alejandro Bedoya to Major League Soccer.
ESPN reported on Monday night that a proposed deal for the United States international midfielder includes a $1 million transfer fee and a salary in the $750k to $850k range. That's serious money for the historically frugal Union, who would make Bedoya their record signing if they secure a signature.
Last year, talks with Bedoya reached final stages before a proposed deal crumbled. Union coaches and executives met with the midfielder and his girlfriend for dinner in Philadelphia and reached an agreement on similar salary numbers. Chairman Jay Sugarman was persuaded by the technical staff that opening the wallet for Bedoya would be money well spent. I was told that the deal fell apart at the last minute because Nantes, Bedoya's Ligue 1 club, ultimately decided not to sell.
It was just one of several negotiations that took place with the French side over the course of 2015. The Union had signed striker Fernando Aristeguieta on-loan from Nantes just a few months prior. At the time of the Bedoya talks, the Union were also negotiating an extension of that original six-month loan, which was successful. Aristeguieta then returned to Nantes at the end of the MLS campaign.
Nantes recently added new players in the summer transfer window, so it seems more likely that they would be willing to part with Bedoya this time around. He signed a contract extension with the club last season.
League source tells me that Bedoya transfer fee is $1M w/salary between $750k and $850k. https://t.co/jpjy4hfjsB
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) August 2, 2016
Is this the best use of nearly two million dollars?
In seven seasons, the Union have never devoted that much money to a combined transfer fee and signing. Injured captain Maurice Edu is currently the only designated player on the roster. Bedoya would instantly become the highest-paid player in Union history. He would immediately top the depth chart at either winger spot, or the attacking midfield position, which is where he's played for Nantes in recent years.
Problem is, Philly doesn't really need a winger or a CAM.
That makes me wonder if the Union see Bedoya as a replacement for Vincent Nogueira at the #8 instead. Nogueira's departure left a gaping hole in an important spot that hasn't been adequately filled by Tranquillo Barnetta or Warren Creavalle.
Bedoya began his career as a winger, and that's what earned him transfers from Orebro, to Rangers, to Helsingborgs, and then to Nantes. Like most wide players, he later moved inside to play as a CAM.
Assuming Edu comes back healthy at some point, this is what the shape might look like if Jim Curtin decides to try Bedoya in Nogueira's role.
You would have Bedoya and Edu sitting behind Barnetta with Roland Alberg on the bench. It's really the only way to do it, unless you want to put Barnetta on the bench instead. Is Chris Pontius or Ilsinho going to the bench? Is Bedoya coming here to play on the wing? I doubt it. The technical staff is high on both Pontius and Ilsinho. I also don't know if Edu is the most disciplined number six out there. He plays the position differently than Brian Carroll.
The issue is this – Bedoya, Barnetta, and Alberg all play their best soccer in the number 10 role. Alberg is a goal scorer. The other two play a two-way game and press smartly . None of those guys is a natural number eight. Barnetta's contract expires at the end of the season, so maybe the long-term goal is to get Bedoya in at the #10 in 2017.
If it really came down to it, I think Bedoya could play the 8, but do you really want him there? He quietly had a decent Copa America, deployed as a wide midfielder in various shapes under Jurgen Klinsmann. He remained disciplined, didn't take gambles, and committed himself to the shape. He's a versatile player, but I don't think you spend that amount of money on a guy that you're not going to play at his best position(s).
Union are currently 2nd in allocation order (which Bedoya would go through). Chicago would have to pass or trade their pick to Union.
— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) August 2, 2016
More than anything, I still think the Union need a DP striker. The club has skated by with draft picks and reclamation projects and cheap signings since its inception. C.J. Sapong is an excellent target man, but he's killing himself every game to battle with two center backs and hold the ball for his teammates. Fabian Herbers is a rookie. The forward depth chart then goes to Sebastien Le Toux and Pontius, who have played as midfielders this year.
Guys like David Villa and Sebastian Giovinco cost upwards of five million dollars, and the Union will never spend that kind of money. But you can get a player like Ola Kamara, Bradley Wright-Phillips, or Cubo Torres for the same amount of cash that Philly is willing to spend on Bedoya.
Strikers are hard to find, but they really are out there.
Whatever happens, the real takeaway here is that the Union look like they're finally willing to spend some money.
