The Seattle Sounders are reportedly “close to finalizing” a transfer for Argentinian winger Pedro de la Vega of Lanús. Sounder at Heart has confirmed that the teams are currently negotiating a deal, but that it has not been completed. If the Sounders are able to finalize the deal, de la Vega would count as a Young Designated Player. The Sounders have apparently been scouting de la Vega for at least a couple of years.
The initial report came from a Tiago Brandão of Territorio MLS.
EXCLUSIVE. 🚨 Information from me by @territoriomlsen.
— Tiago Brandão (@Tiagobrandao_8) December 4, 2023
🇦🇷🟢🔵
The Seattle Sounders are close to finalizing the signing of Argentine forward Pedro de La Vega, from Lanús, who is 22 years old.
The player is one of the biggest promises in Argentine football, and his departure… pic.twitter.com/M04XKscQVx
The 22-year-old attacker has been a starter for Lanús for most of this season, logging six goals and three assists in about 2,000 minutes. Lanús gave de la Vega his first-team debut at 17 and he's scored 11 goals with five assists in about 3,000 career Primera Division minutes, with another six goals and seven assists in various other competitions. He is also in contention for the Argentina Olympic team.
Transfermarkt pegs his value at about $7 million, which would represent a record fee for the Sounders. As a 2001-born player, de la Vega would not be eligible for the U22 Iniatitive, but his salary would likely push him over that threshold anyway. Signing him as a Young DP would allow the Sounders to sign two additional U22 players, however.
Primarily a wide player, de la Vega would likely supplant Léo Chú as a left-sided player and indicate that the Sounders see Jordan Morris more as a No. 9 at least for now.
