Bring Fanendo Adi to Vancouver!

MLSSoccer.com’s Sam Stejskal reported yesterday that Portland Timbers striker Fanendo Adi requested a trade away from Portland Timbers, but would like to stay in Major League Soccer. It appears that Portland will honor that request and are seeking to move him prior to the close of the secondary transfer window on August 8th.

The 27-year-old is on a contract just under $2 million, which Sam reports may be a stumbling block for the Timbers to get any type of substantial return. This is because it is above the $1.5 million threshold for the use of TAM.

With the transfer of Alphonso Davies earlier this week, the Whitecaps are in an advantageous position to make a play for Adi. They are able to use up to $750,000 of the reported (at least) $13 million for General Allocation Money (GAM). This GAM could be enticing for Portland. In addition, MLS rules allow transfer revenue to be used to buy down a designated player (DP) contract. However, the Whitecaps currently only have two DPs in Kendall Waston and Brek Shea. Therefore, they would not even have to use any of their transfer money to buy-down Adi’s contract.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Portland would want to trade Adi to a conference rival in Vancouver, who they often play three times a year (this year excluded). Also, the Whitecaps currently have Kei Kamara and Anthony Blondell as their primary strikers, with Erik Hurtado and Myer Bevan toiling away on the bench/reserves. With Kamara and Yordy Reyna occupying the two primary striker positions in Carl Robinson’s 4-4-1-1, it seems that Adi would not have a place on the squad. Then again, you should never turn down quality players. There is a reason why top teams have competition everywhere on the field. As we have all noted with Davies transfer to Bayern Munich, just practicing with superior players makes everyone better. Having Adi banging against Kamara could only benefit both.

The other side of my suggestion is whether Adi would be interested in coming to Vancouver. It is close to Portland, so if he likes the West Coast, it might be appealing. However, one of the reasons for his request for a trade, presumably, is his lack of play since being injured last season. With the backlog of strikers in Vancouver, even if Adi would be better than all of them, might be a deterrent.

Whether it happens or not (it won’t), I would LOVE to see Adi in Vancouver. Ever since he arrived in MLS, he has been a favourite of mine and someone I have always wished the Whitecaps pursued. He is a great balance of size and ball-handling skill. He can play effective hold-up, but can also dribble around the defenders and shoot for distance. While it wouldn’t work, a combination of Kamara and Adi up top would be scary, with Reyna, Davies, and Techera following up behind. Add in Felipe? Of course, that would mean absolutely no defensive support. Given the leaking of goals this season, that might be death. Nevertheless, it is fun to imagine.

What are your thoughts on Adi? Would you be interested in seeing him in Vancouver? Do you feel he would be an upgrade over what currently exists? What do you see as the likelihood of him coming to Vancouver?