Now that Carlos Vela, arguably LAFC’s best ever participant, has determined to hang up his boots on the ripe outdated age of 36, and Antoine Griezmann gained’t be becoming a member of, the membership wants a brand new shining mild. Giovanni Reyna may very well be simply that.
Griezmann was reportedly set to signal and fill Vela’s large boots, with a report suggesting the winger was in talks with the membership, hoping to make the swap as soon as his contract at Atletico Madrid expired on the finish of the season.
Issues modified, nonetheless. The World Cup winner has dedicated the subsequent two years to Atletico, as confirmed by the membership, placing pen to paper on a brand new cope with the Spanish giants.
LAFC supervisor Steven Cherundolo has been a improbable servant for the membership, profitable an MLS Cup, Supporters’ Defend and U.S. Open Cup, however and not using a bona fide celebrity amongst its ranks, LAFC dangers falling into irrelevancy.
The membership shall be energetic in the summertime switch window and may have a few designated participant spots to mess around with. Of its present entrance three, solely Denis Bouanga ought to be thought of untouchable.
Bouanga has carried on his nice type from the previous two seasons into this one, bagging 11 targets and offering 4 assists in his 21 video games. Jeremy Ebobisse and Nathan Ordaz, the opposite two who performed within the win over Membership America, alternatively, can be extra replaceable.
Reyna can be the proper participant to come back in and fill the void left by Vela’s retirement and Griezmann’s rejection. The 22-year-old is unloved and undesirable at Borussia Dortmund, positioned on the switch checklist because it seeks to boost funds for the summer season, in keeping with Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
He has the form of title a franchise can construct round, a member of considered one of America’s nice soccer dynasties. His versatility would even be an enormous bonus. Though he is a pure winger, as Reyna has grown up, he is performed extra centrally for Dortmund and through his mortgage with Nottingham Forest in 2023-24.
Frankie Amaya, on mortgage from Toluca, will return to his father or mother membership in January. Taking part in on the best aspect of the midfield trio, and though he is recent, Amaya has struggled to make a real impression this season, failing to offer a objective contribution in his seven video games. Reyna would additionally enhance that place.
He has some extent to show. His profession in Europe has stagnated, beginning simply 5 of his 25 video games for the Germans, scoring two targets and offering one help within the course of. The possibility to come back residence and revitalize his profession, particularly forward of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in a barely much less demanding league would probably be tempting.
Valued at $12.5 million, he gained’t come low cost, however at such a younger age, he would have appreciable resale worth, not like Griezmann, who can be turning 36 as soon as his new cope with Atletico Madrid expires.
Systematically, it makes a number of sense, too. Cherundolo loves a busy winger. The kind of participant who can impression video games offensively however isn’t afraid to do the soiled work and assist defensively when wanted. That’s precisely what Reyna would provide LAFC.
It would not play with a lot width, and neither Vela nor Griezmann may very well be thought of out-and-out wingers anyway; they’re extra like inside forwards, receiving the ball from midfield earlier than reducing inside and working at defenders or taking a shot.
As locations go, it may very well be loads worse than SoCal, and Reyna has loads of time to return to Europe ought to he wish to. For now, the transfer can be good for all events.
