WVHooligan - Soccer Blog

Former San Jose Earthquake and current US National team member Ramiro Corrales is all but set to return to the MLS after playing three seasons in Norway.

The only thing that isn’t clear for the 30-year old defender is where he will end up once he finalizes his deal with the league. His former club, now in Houston isn’t interested in bringing in the defender due to a high salary figure that he will more than likely be earning and the fact that the two-time champions don’t need a defender at the moment.

“Our priority is signing forwards,” Dynamo chief operating officer Chris Canetti said Monday.

Corrales could end up with his former club but only the expansion version of that club in San Jose once the dust clears. His MLS rights are still held by the Dynamo but he could end up in a number of places other than San Jose, though I am sure he’d love to return close to home, which would more than likely make his wife happier than him being in Norway.

Houston has a good thing here I think, a number of teams need depth at defense and Houston needs a striker (or two). A couple teams come to mind that could make a play for Corrales other than San Jose. Chicago, who seems pretty set at the forward postition with plenty of young strikers could trade one away with some allocation (something the Dynamo need desperately at the moment).

Chivas is in the same boat, they could potentially land a striker elsewhere but do have a striker that wants out in Ante Razov. Now a duo of Razov and Brian Ching honestly doesn’t scare me as much as it use to due to both player’s age right now but it could work for a season. Chivas needs defense as much as anyone else does and a deal could make sense.

Columbus could make a deal but I know they are still set on signing a couple European based players. KC has plenty of cash and could easily just send allocation for the rights to Corrales but they, like Houston, need depth at striker so I doubt they would pull the trigger for Corrales unless they know they can sign a young and cheap South American product at striker.

New England and New York almost have to be mentioned in this in my mind. But I doubt either will want a deal. Same kind of goes for LA since they already have no cap space and plenty of over-paid players.

Real Salt Lake could make sense, but Corrales isn’t from Argentina so why would they make a play for him.

Then this brings me to Toronto. You know Mo Johnston wants to make a splash this year before the season starts and Corrales would fit nicely in Toronto I think. The Reds have some money to throw and maybe even a player that Houston would want as well. Maybe a Jeff Cunningham for Corrales swap? Could work, could work.

We do know this, Corrales will be in a MLS uniform but for now it is a fun guessing game to see which one it will be.

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