As the Montreal Impact look to improve there team for the second half of the MLS season, and a playoff push, there are a number of rumour surrounding the team. In this article we take a look at those rumours.
Montreal Impact: Transfer Rumour Roundup
Where Art Thou Didier:
It all started Monday evening when Montreal Impact President Joey Saputo went on TSN Radio Montreal 690 and declared, “This past Friday I had the pleasure of speaking directly to Didier [Drogba] about the opportunity of coming to Montreal.” This confirmation of interest in one of the greatest strikers in Chelsea Football Club history was enough to send Impact fans into delirium and start monitoring the hashtag #DrogbaWatch day and night. As always the case with MLS the final outcome will no doubt be complicated as the Chicago Fire currently hold Drogba’s ‘discovery rights’. Whether the player lands in Chicago or Montreal it has again revealed a messy side of MLS transfer procedure.
Old Foe Johan Venegas in the Mix:
However Didier Drogba is not the only potential new acquisition the Impact have their eyes on.
Montreal have also submitted a transfer bid on Costan Rican international midfielder Johan Venegas. Most Impact fans will remember Venegas from when Montreal took on Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions League. The midfielder scored 17 goals in 72 league appearances for Alajuelense over the last two seasons. If Venegas can help the Impact out in the centre of midfield he could prove to be a very valuable addition.
Another Rumour from Serie A:
The third and final name linked with the Impact is Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani. The ex-Fiorentina player claimed on Friday that he had “four or five very interesting offers” from Italy and abroad. It is no surprise that the Impact have been linked with Aquilani for a number of weeks now. Italy has been also been a source for Impact related rumours and with Joey Saputo recently purchasing Bologna these rumours seem to only grow each transfer window.
What is Next?
On Wednesday night at a members event Joey Saputo mentioned that he was hoping to get a response from Drogba by the weekend, although none has come by Friday night. It is no secret that the Impact have been after a replacement for Marco Di Vaio since his retirement last season. During the last transfer window Montreal made a strong push for Italian striker Alberto Gilardino, but eventually lost out to Serie A side Fiorentina. Even an aging Didier Drogba would be a huge score not only for the Impact but the MLS in general.
With the MLS transfer window open until August 8 the Impact will try and retool their roster in a push towards the Canadian Championship and MLS playoffs.
