It’s silly season! LAFC used their speed and star power to hand the Philadelphia Union their 1st of 2 finals defeats on Saturday. That means, the 2022 season is now officially behind us.
For some, that’s a good thing.
Matt Polster either doesn't mince words, or he just wanted this interview to be over as soon as possible. Either way, great answer.#NERevs pic.twitter.com/pRyhQ3voVw
— Jeff Lemieux (@jeff_lemieux) November 8, 2022
It’s also the official beginning of “unsubstantiated transfer rumor leaked by an unnamed player-agent to a less than credible twitter account”….uh…. season. Congrats, to all those who celebrate.
Let’s pour a drink, put on our cozy socks and curl up next to the fire with a rundown of all the transfer rumors swirling around the Revolution this offseason. Some of these may pan out for New England, others will fizzle out almost as soon as they are leaked. Whichever the case, I will update this article as the winter progresses, so check back often!
INS
Dayro Moreno to the Revs?!
This rumor comes to us from German Andres Paz, a columnist covering Colombian soccer. Dayro Moreno is a forward currently with Atletico Bucamaranga in the Colombian Primera Division. He’s had a LONG career as a forward. A LONG careern. He’s currently 37 years young, making him older than any player currently on the Revolution.
¿Dayro a la MLS?
Me informan un par de colegas de los Estados Unidos, qué el futbolista colombiano Dayro Moreno está casi a un 90% cerrado con el club New England Revolution @NERevolution de La MLS. El jugador firmara por un año de contrato con opción a otro año. pic.twitter.com/MKB7OWVLa6— Germán Andrés Paz (@germanandrespaz) October 29, 2022
That may not necessarily be a bad thing, though, as he’s still scoring with regularity. In 2022, he found the back of the net 22 times in 42 appearances, mostly as a starter. He also has international experience, with 31 appearances for Colombia. He was even a part of the Colombia squad that took 3rd in the Copa America Centanario.
If this rumor has any legs, he likely slots in as the 3rd striker on the team. Or potentially as a 2nd option up top, if New England wants to move on from Gustavo Bou. His current Transfermarkt valuation is $250K so, if he’s got juice left in the tank, it could be worthwhile. At 37, though, there is some risk.
Update: December 21
Moreno did not, in fact, make his way stateside. He signed a contract with Once Caldas in Colombia in early December. The Revs for their part, used the re-entry draft to select former USMNT striker Bobby Wood to round out their forwards room.
Jhohan Julio?
News in Brazil is that Jhohan Julio is on the outs with his current club, Santos, and could be on the move soon. The Revs got a mention as a potential landing spot. His half-brother Anderson Julio, already plays in MLS with Real Salt Lake. The 24 year old Ecuadorian attacking midfielder hasn’t seen a ton of time with Santos, and has mostly been a bench-warmer since about June.
O jogador é alvo de sondagens vindo dos Estados Unidos, os Clubes da MLS New England Revolution, Portland Timbers e o Inter Miami podem ser seu próximo destino já em janeiro, quando abre a janela de transferência.#santos #brasil #futebol #santosfc #vilabelmiro #Brasileirao2022 pic.twitter.com/0sIHQpDx1u
— Futtavi (@Futtavi) November 2, 2022
He came up through LDU Quito in Ecuador, and his current stint in the Brasilierao is a 14 month loan. His transfer value isn’t astronomical, at $1.3M. With a loan, it seems plausible that the cost to acquire him could be lower than that.
He mostly plays central attacking midfield, so he almost certainly slots in well behind Carles Gil. Even at a low loan-fee, is it worth it?
Eryk Williamson?
Our first American player rumor comes to us from MLS’ Armchair Analyst himself, Matt Doyle. Doyle indicates that New England could be looking to bring in Portland Timbers midfielder Eryk Williamson.
If the Revs can get Williamson from Portland — and I hear they're trying — then him & Polster behind Gil in a 4231… man, that'd be tough. https://t.co/LxUhNw3j36
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) November 8, 2022
Williams is an underrated central midfielder who was beginning to get serious USMNT attention in 2021 before an ACL injury ended his season. He came back in 2022, but the timing of the injury meant that Berhalter and Co had to move on from the 25 year old midfielder.
What a player Eryk Williamson is. pic.twitter.com/nNU35KqSxf
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) April 14, 2021
Williamson would fill a big need for New England, who have yet to nail down a midfield partner for Matt Polster. With Wilfrid Kaptoum leaving the club, and Maciel’s injury, Williamson could make a lot of sense.
Update December 21
Despite additional rumors swirling around the Rev-o-sphere, there’s been no movement on the Eryk Williamson front. It appears as though there’s some indications that Portland may hang onto the US midfielder. A recent spate of rumors was swiftly shot down by Tom Bogert.
Sources: Reports suggesting the New England Revolution and the Portland Timbers are "close" on a deal for Eryk Williamson are categorically false. Just completely untrue.
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 16, 2022
Unnamed Big Name Centerback?
The #NERevs are working hard to sign a "big name" center-back in the Free Agent window, I’m told. The team contacted domestic and international Free Agents in the last few days.
The FA window opens on November 16th.
— Gustavo Lopes 🇧🇷🇺🇸 (@TheGusLopes) November 8, 2022
There isn’t much to go on here. I’d imagine most teams are “working hard” to sign big name players. That said, Gus is one of the best in the business at reporting accurate Revs information.
Center back is a place on the field that New England could really use some help, so if Arena goes big anywhere, CB might be the spot to do it. Until we get more info, however, we’ll have to hope the unnamed player has this mentality:
Update December 21:
The Revs have yet to sign a defender to the first team, so there’s no movement here. That said, they did sign USYNT centerback Santiago Suarez to Revs II. This is a move with the intention to bring him along to the first team next year, as soon as he’s eligible for a homegrown contract. Suarez is a top American CB prospect and bringing him in from the Sacramento Republic academy is a smart bit of business for the future of the club.
From a NER standpoint, this is an excellent signing. Suarez is a ~top 10 ‘05. Very good defensive CB. Tall, very mobile, good read of the game. Weakness is passing.
My main question is where he plays in 2023. Is he ready for MLS minutes? Why move this offseason to play Next Pro? https://t.co/AguhoYSDGY
— USMNTProspects (@ProspectsUsmnt) November 28, 2022
New England also drafted 2 CBs from the collegiate ranks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the MLS Superdraft. Victor Souza is a player that will have been well scouted by the Revs due to his time with Boston College. He also came up through the NYCFC academy with whom he won the 2019 National Championship. Meanwhile third round selection Andreas Ueland provides some intrigue. He’s 6’5″ and was one of the top prospects headed into the draft. He played his college soccer at Virginia with Henry Kessler, even being held in higher esteem, at one point, than the Revs starter.
From a @Pehota piece about Henry Kessler in March 2020: @CharlieDavies9 commented back in 2020 when #NERevs third round draft pick Andreas Ueland was paired with Kessler in a game for UVA that Ueland might be the best defender in the ACC. https://t.co/llwCDCmlaX pic.twitter.com/WbMi8nV9ag
— Sean Donahue (@SeanLDonahue) December 22, 2022
Both of these players may miss out on making the roster, and neither qualify as a “big name” centerback. That doesn’t mean they can’t be useful to the team.
Joris Kayembe?
New reports out of Belgium indicate interest from the Revs in Sporting Charleroi left back Joris Kayembe. The 28 year old Belgian/Congolese defender has spent his career bouncing around European top flight leagues, mostly in Portugal, and currently plays in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.
Back on my @CandCFanSided soapbox, I wrote about the apparent interest in @JorisKayembe from the #NERevs. Also, what I think about the move if it happens.
https://t.co/zLgRGQUS85— Chris Creighton, #NERevs annoyance extraordinaire (@CreightonC11) December 17, 2022
There was apparently an offer made by New England of around ~€1M but it was rejected by the Belgian club. For his part, Kayembe seems open to the transfer but says he will “never force [his] departure” and prefers that all parties agree and are happy with the terms.
He’s a strong defender and saw his transfer value rise a few years ago while he got a few appearances for the Belgian national team. Since then his transfermarkt value has dipped to ~€2.2M making him a more attainable transfer target.
OUTS
Jozy Altidore on the way out?
This is less of a concrete rumor, and more speculation based upon what coach Bruce Arena had to say at the close of the 2022 season. Altidore spent much of the 2022 campaign on loan at Puebla in Liga MX. Upon his return Arena had the following to say:
“I know [Altidore] has an interest in perhaps going elsewhere, and we’ll work with him to see if that possible.”
Nothing is a given in Revs land, but Bruce has been willing to make moves in the interest of the players. Over the summer, Arena moved on from Sebastian Lletget after just a few months in New England, trading him to a better situation in Dallas.
ICYMI on Saturday, Jozy Altidore scored his first goal in #NERevs colours. #MLS pic.twitter.com/hn3xeFHk4W
— Footy Prime presented by @NorthStarBet (@footy_prime) March 14, 2022
I could easily see something similar happening with Jozy, who never quite fit with the Revs. He has one goal in 17 appearances for New England.
Update Dec 22:
At a press conference after the MLS Superdraft, Bruce Arena indicated that Jozy Altidore would be back with the Revs for preseason and that it would be “interesting to see where he’s at”. This doesn’t rule out the possibility that Arena will attempt to move him before the season, or even mid-season as he did last year. That said, it certainly seems to be trending towards Altidore being a member of the Revolution in 2023.
Bruce Arena on Jozy Altidore: "Right now, he’s on our roster. When he shows up in preseason, it will be interesting to see where he’s at." https://t.co/PRvoN4iqx1 pic.twitter.com/19Zkgi7tAn
— Seth (@SethMan31) December 22, 2022
Gustavo Bou back to Argentina?
Bou has long had a love affair with his former Racing Club in the Argentine Primera Division. What’s more he’s coming off of an underwhelming and injury plagued 2022, which left many fans wondering if his best days were behind him.
Normally there’d be no story here. But then again…
REPORT 🗞️
Racing want to sign #NERevs forward Gustavo Bou!
Discuss it HERE 👉https://t.co/KEjRiNKlv2 pic.twitter.com/V55jKtAIBh
— Transfermarkt.us (@TMusa_news) October 25, 2022
Teams are interested in players all the time. But it sure seems like there’s mutual interest here.
I’ll conclude by saying, I don’t think the Revolution move on from Gustavo Bou this winter. He recently signed a contract extension with the Revs, and has family considerations as well. New England fans may be over Bou, but I think he still provides enough value when healthy that he’s not on the trade block.
When his contract ends, I think a move back to Argentina seems likely. Especially given the fact that he’s currently the club president of Club Nebel in Argentina.
Gustavo Bou has been named the president of Club Nebel in Argentina. His goal is to help young players achieve their dreams. #NERevs https://t.co/F0rJkqg5eT
— Seth (@SethMan31) November 6, 2022
Check back for more rumors and analysis!