Seattle Sounders MLS Transfer Rumors: Sounders Want to Sign A.C. Milan Midfielder Keisuke Honda
Attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda has always been an avid fan of A.C. Milan. When he signed with the Serie A club in 2013, he probably thought his dreams were finally coming true. However, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. His move to Milan has been a disaster so far. The club failed to finish in the top four since he joined and he also struggled to live up to expectations. Honda clearly needs a change of scenery to revitalize his career and he may be on the move.
ESPN FC has reported that the Seattle Sounders are making a move for Honda. Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport has even reported that a deal has already been finalized, but a source told ESPN FC the deal wasn't done yet. However, the source did reveal that the Sounders have a "better than 50–50 chance" of acquiring Honda.
The deal will reportedly be for two years and Honda's salary will be in the one-million-dollar to 1.5-million-dollar range. Furthermore, the Sounders won't have to shell out a transfer fee for the deal.
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Sounder At Heart has reported that A.C. Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said Honda's not going anywhere until his contract expires in June. However, the publication also noted that this may change since the club is about to get sold to a Chinese consortium.
Meanwhile, Seattle Times reporter Geoff Baker has pointed out that the deal involving Honda might be delayed because of the change in ownership.
"Until that sale takes place, the Sounders won't have the chance to speak to the new ownership group in order to negotiate the transfer. The current owners are likely fully willing to part ways with Honda, given he's barely played. But the new owners are buying a team they think still has Honda on it, so there's no way to ask their permission to change the squad's makeup by such a degree until they are actually in charge," Baker said in his report.
