Report: LA Galaxy set to add Ashley Cole, Nigel de Jong, Jelle Van Damme

The ongoing rumors regarding the LA Galaxy and European additions continue to percolate, with the Los Angeles Times' Kevin Baxter reporting on Saturday that three of the four names linked to the club are close to joining.

English defender Ashley Cole, the rumor that has lasted the longest this offseason, has reached a deal with Serie A club Roma to release him from his contract, paving the way to a deal with MLS and the Galaxy.

Two players who have been linked to the team last week, Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong and Belgian defender Jelle Van Damme, "also [appear] close to deals" with the Galaxy, according to Baxter, although de Jong's deal would appear to be predicated on another buyout or release from his current contract with AC Milan.

Baxter also reports that previous links to Aston Villa defender Joleon Lescott have waned, with the English defender set to remain in England.

It appears there are numerous moving parts here, and while Cole's signing sounds closer to done than the others, it also sounds possible that the Galaxy could sign all three this offseason. The next question is whether those are the moves needed.