With the January transfer window looming, this is the latest I’m hearing about players potentially leaving MLS this month. All information was collected from sources informed about the relationship, who were granted anonymity so that they could freely discuss each situation.
Coco Carrasquilla
Not much has changed about the situation surrounding Houston Dynamo star midfielder Coco Carrasquilla since the summer: Lots of interest, but no official offer (yet).
Clubs in Spain, Brazil and Mexico are in pursuit, but they are yet to submit an offer, sources say.
Houston was preparing for bids in August and was happy to keep him until the end of the year as Carrasquilla played a crucial role in the club winning the US Open Cup and finishing fourth in the Western Conference before going to the conference finals.
Carrasquilla, 25, played for Spanish side FC Cartagena before joining Houston in 2021. He made 28 appearances in the Spanish second division.
Julian Carranza
With one year left on his contract, Philadelphia Union forward Julian Carranza looks set for an exit sooner or later. There is plenty of interest in a January move abroad, but Union and Carranza will work to find the right opportunity. If he stays in Philly, he could leave as a free agent next winter.
Thiago Almada
The biggest non-MLS transfer story to watch remains the same: Atlanta are waiting for serious offers close to their valuation and prefer to keep Thiago Almada as long as they can.
Almada, 22, was part of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad last winter and has been among the best players in MLS since arriving in a league-record transfer worth $16 million ahead of the 2022 season. Last year he was a finalist for MLS MVP after a stellar season with 13 goals and a career-high 16 assists in 35 appearances in all competitions.
Napoli, Ajax and others have been closely linked with Almada in the past. Atlanta is likely to hold out for a package around $30 million, eclipsing the current MLS transfer record of $27 million (Miguel Almiron from Atlanta to Newcastle in 2019).
Federico Bernardecshi
Federico Bernardeschi and Toronto FC could be headed for a breakup next 18 disastrous months. Both sides would like this result.
Bernardeschi visited Juventus’ training facility at the end of November and, when asked by a supporter if he would return to the club this winter, he said “I hope so”. Reports in Italy last week said Bernardeschi is “doing everything he can” to return to Juventus on loan this winter.
The 29-year-old’s time in Toronto has been marred by disappointing performances and tales of off-field discontent, including leading the charge for the departure of head coach Bob Bradley and more, as revealed by Athletics in May. He has 13 goals and five assists in 47 appearances for the club.
Toronto missed the playoffs in each of his two seasons there and finished bottom of the league last year.
Denis Bouanga
MLS Golden Boot winner and LAFC star Denis Bouanga is unlikely to be on the move, as LAFC have no interest in losing the Gabon international – but there is still a chance.
Bouanga wants a new contract but nothing has happened on that front yet. Bouanga was the 23rd highest paid player in MLS last season.
“It’s a possibility, yes,” Bouanga said after the MLS Cup when asked if he could return to Europe. “I leave that to other people, even if I still have a few years left on my contract here.”
However, LAFC president John Thorrington dismissed the idea of Bouanga leaving.
“Our plan is absolutely (he will be back),” he said. “He is under contract for a few more years. We never know what can happen, but it will be an extremely expensive transfer fee if he is not here next year.”
LAFC will likely demand at least $15 million to entertain a move away. Clubs in France and Saudi Arabia are interested in Bouanga, sources say.
The 29-year-old had 38 goals in all competitions in 2023, winning the Golden Boot in both MLS and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Noel Buck
Although serious interest continues to swirl around England youth international Noel Buck, the New England Revolution have yet to receive an official offer. While a move this winter remains a possibility with all clubs interested, Buck could stay with the Revs for another six or 12 months as both sides wait for the right opportunity.
Apart from a host of English teams, Belgian giants Club Brugge are also among the clubs chasing Buck. Brugge did business with the Revs in recent years, acquiring Tajon Buchanan for $7 million plus a 10% selloff. Sources expect New England to seek a package similar to Buchanan’s.
Buck, 18, earned a starting role for the Revs in 2023 and enjoyed a breakout year that ended as a regular with the England U-19 national team.
Duncan McGuire
Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire transitioned from college soccer to the U.S. U-23 national team in one year. He could soon be on his way to Europe, but Orlando wants to keep the striker
Blackburn have had two loan offers rejected and are expected to return with a third, sources said. French club FC Nantes are also interested but have yet to make an offer. Dutch side FC Utrecht had eyed a deal, but that pursuit is inactive. The group that owns Lyon and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium are also interested and are likely to look to sign McGuire to Molenbeek if serious talks materialise.
McGuire and Orlando are also in talks about a new contract in between. The 22-year-old is likely to be on the United States Olympic team this summer. He had 15 goals and three assists in 1,930 minutes in all competitions in his debut professional season.
Cade Cowell
The San Jose Earthquakes have received two new offers for USMNT winger Cade Cowell this winter: one from Liga MX and one from a Europa League club.
Cowell was the subject of lengthy negotiations from Bologna to Serie A in the summer, but San Jose failed to agree with them. San Jose previously rejected an offer from Reims in France two summers ago.
Cowell, 20, is ready to take the next step in his career after four seasons as a first-team regular in San Jose.
Karol Swiderski
Polish international striker Karol Swiderski is interested in a return to Europe after two years with Charlotte FC, but any potential deal would not come cheap.
Charlotte signed Swiderski for about $5 million ahead of their 2022 expansion season, and he led the team in scoring in each of his first two seasons.
No official offer has yet arrived, but Bundesliga clubs are among those interested in the striker. Charlotte has DP forward Enzo Copetti and is revamping the offense under new head coach Dean Smith.
Alvaro Barreal
FC Cincinnati is gearing up for bids for star full-back Alvaro Barreal after the Argentinian had a stellar season in 2023.
Barreal was the subject of interest from Ajax and others in the summer, but, as they did with Brandon VazquezCincy insisted on keeping Barreal until the end of the season as they pushed for the trophy.
Evander
Brazilian giants Flamengo tabled a bid to sign Portland Timbers attacking midfielder Evander, but the $7.5 million bid was rejected out of hand, sources briefed on the bid say. It’s nowhere near the Timbers’ valuation of the player.
Evander, 25, became the Portland club’s record signing last winter when they spent $10 million to sign him from Midtjylland. Evander is under contract through 2026, with a club option for 2027. They have no interest in selling, especially with a low offer of $7.5 million.
If the offers continue to rise to a point where the club has to take notice, maybe something changes. But at the moment it is not close to this stage.
Jefferson Savarino
Another DP at the heart of a Brazilian club is Real Salt Lake’s Jefferson Savarino. Botafogo and RSL are close to a deal worth around $2.7 million for the Venezuela international, sources briefed on the talks say. Athletics. RSL would also retain a percentage of the sale.
Savarino, 27, had a mixed 2023 season. He had 11 goals and four assists, but wasn’t always a starter as his off-the-ball work left something to be desired from the coaching staff.
The move would open up a DP spot for RSL following club record signing Chicho Arango.
Luquinhas
Luquinhas is another player likely to leave MLS for Brazil this winter.
New York Red Bulls and Fortaleza are in advanced discussions over a deal. The talks were first reported by CL Merlo.
Luquinhas, 27, joined the Red Bulls in 2022 and started strongly but has struggled over the past year and a half. He had just eight goals and nine assists in 56 games.
New York signed forward Emil Forsberg from RB Leipzig this winter. Lewis Morgan will also return from injury, meaning Luquinhas could fight for starting minutes. The deal would open up a DP seat for RBNY.
No Farsi
United Arab Emirates club Al-Wasl are pushing to sign Columbus Crew full-back Mo Farsi, sources say, but have yet to make a formal offer to the club.
Farsi is currently in Dubai. The Crew doesn’t kick off the preseason until later this month, due to their MLS Cup win. Al-Wasl are currently first in the UAE Pro League after 12 matches.
Farsi, 24, made 41 appearances in all competitions for Columbus in 2023, starting all five playoff games. He excelled with the Crew’s second team in 2022, winning the MLS Next Pro title that year and earning a deal with the first team.
Columbus will need this position if Farsi leaves, as Julian Gressel has already left in free agency.
(Photo Noel Buck: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
