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The LA Galaxy are set to return to action in the weirdest MLS season in history in a week’s time, but with the MLS transfer window currently open, come reports they’re set to bolster their attack.
The Galaxy are reportedly close to adding Colombian winger Yony Gonzalez on loan from Portuguese giant Benfica, according to Kevin Baxter of the LA Times.
Re: Yony Gonzalez and @LAGalaxy. A high-ranking front-office official with detailed knowledge of the talks said they are "99% done. We should be OK, I feel," he said. Gonzalez, 26, would take the place of the departed Aleksandar Katai on the right wing
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) August 15, 2020
Corner of the Galaxy shared the internet sleuthing tidbit that yes, Dennis te Kloese does follow Gonzalez on social media.
Rumor Ranking: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#LAGalaxy #MLS https://t.co/Iti4DQEm9m
— Corner Of The Galaxy (@GalaxyPodcast) August 15, 2020
Additional outlets, including some based in Colombia, have also reported this particular story.
Gonzalez, 26, only signed with Benfica in January, then was sent on loan to Brazilian giant Corinthians a month later. For a younger player, I’d say that is a normal progression, since the Portuguese giants like to buy prospects in bulk and loan them out to give them some seasoning, but a 26-year-old is a bit weirder, not sure if he needed some more acclimation time to the Portuguese language? Or if he was an insurance policy and then they didn’t need him after all?
At any rate, the Galaxy need productive bodies in attack, and Gonzalez, who has previously played in South America for Envigado and Junior in his native country before a stint with another Brazilian power, Fluminense, last year, could be that player. He scored quite a few goals in 2018 and 2019 on different clubs, so he appears to be a wide player who can put the ball in the back of the net, and LA need players who can do that right now.
So, this is not a done deal but considering the sources it looks quite likely to happen. The Galaxy have an international slot open because of Aleksandar Katai’s departure, so that’s not a concern, and I expect they’ll want to conduct their business quickly, in order to try and get some traction on the 2020 season. We’ll keep you posted on updates to this story if they are forthcoming.
What do you think? Leave a comment below.