Seattle Sounders Transfer Rumor: Prince Tagoe In Town?
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 23, 2011 10:12 AM PDT
in Sounders: MLS Regular Season
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UPDATE: Here's what Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer had to say about the rumor, make of it what you will: "The only thing that I can confirm is that Prince is a player whom we have followed over the past few months. But he is under contract with Hoffenheim, so we will communicate with them directly, if there are any potential contract discussions.
"The player has family in the United States, so it would not be unreasonable that he be in the country."
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Among the expected crowd of more than 45,000 people at tonight's Seattle Sounders match may be one Prince Tagoe. The Ghanaian international is reportedly in town to discuss the possibility of a six-month loan, at least according to an article out of Ghana. (H/T to MLS-Rumors, which is becoming amazingly reliable at least when it comes to stories tied to the Sounders.)
A six-month loan would seem to make a lot more sense than a full transfer, as Tagoe has reportedly already agreed to play for FC Basel of the Swiss league who supposedly paid a $9 million transfer to the Bundesliga's Hoffenheim. The Sounders have previously denied offering to pay the $200,000-a-week salary that Tagoe says he's been offered, but spread out over only six months, it's not quite so hard to fathom.
In any case, if the Sounders were able to bring Tagoe on board for the rest of the season, it would be an absolute coup. Tagoe would be an instant upgrade as a 6-foot-2 forward and it's not at all hard to see him pairing perfectly with the likes of Fredy Montero. We'll continue to follow the story.
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I'll take a Prince To-goe with a side of Montero.
Thanks
Unofficial Sounder Fan Club President - South Dakota Division
by JWAY on Jun 23, 2011 10:15 AM PDT reply actions 8 recs
Sounds delicious.
Don’t forget a little Honey Badger drizzled on top.
by wyte_lightning on Jun 23, 2011 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Must. Not. Get. Too. Excited.
Must not place hex on possible deal. This would be amazing
Seriously
This would be great. Djibril Cisse would’ve been as well. Drogba and Forlan would’ve been good, too.
If it happens, holy crap.
Haha!
That Hanauer is a funny fella. I truly enjoy his responses to rumors.
by MicahRowe18 on Jun 23, 2011 10:55 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Assuming a deal can be reached
How soon could he play for us?
hmm
a 6-month loan. I understand it make sense although i would prefer if seattle was looking for someone else for a more long-term.
most loans like that would have an option to purchase in them
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
true
it was just an initial reaction to the rumor of a 6-month loan.
geez dude...
he’s a 23 year old who started for a World Cups semifinalist and was playing in the Bundesliga … if you can’t be happy about six months, I don’t know what to tell you.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 23, 2011 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
If seattle
can get him for a 6-month loan sure I’ll happy but its just getting attached to the player being here though.
This is nothing but awesome sauce
Just six months could turn the Sounders from a 1-and done playoff team into one with a real shot at the cup.
If it's only 6 months, he'd most likely be gone for the later stages
but it would help us get out of the group stage for sure.
Would we be signing him on loan from FC Basel or Hoffenheim?
by ABTsportsline on Jun 23, 2011 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Hoffenheim owns the contract
but it may be that both have to agree, or that the paperwork with Basel is not finalized
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
FWIW, Basel have officially denied interest in him.
I don’t necessarily believe that mind you, but still.
by Aaron Campeau on Jun 23, 2011 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Yea
i thought i saw the same thing that Basel has denied interested in him.
I have nothing coherent to say about this
mostly just sputters and squeaks.
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
6 months @ $200k a week means
we’d be dishing out ~$4.8m on Tagoe, on salary alone. I highly doubt that, if we are serious about him, we’d be dropping that kind of dough. I doubt that he is anywhere near worthy of that kind of a salary, but I could be wrong. I’d be happy to be proved wrong.
That's
assuming it would be 200k a week.
Please lets make this happen!!!
if this is true ahhhhh!
Anyone in ECS
Willing to make an ad-hoc “We want Prince” chant? Or is that disrespectful to the men on the field? I just think part of what’s going on here is that Hanauer wants him to see the crowd before he declines our offer.
I think we should do this!
by CapHillSounder on Jun 23, 2011 12:12 PM PDT reply actions
I'm not convinced it's disrespectful to the men on the field
but remember, this is still a rumor. If none of it’s true, building up expectations is unfair to the front office.
by Aaron Campeau on Jun 23, 2011 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey Aaron
Listening to the podcast right now. I know it’s just a rumor about his potential signing with Seattle, but where is the rumor about Prince being in the stadium tonight coming from? We need Joshua Mayers to run this down!! How hard is it to verify whether a person will be in the stadium? (I don’t mean that sarcastically, I literally don’t know how hard it is to verify)
by CapHillSounder on Jun 23, 2011 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Why would we need Josh Mayers to run it down?
This site does a damn fine job of breaking news.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Hahaha.
Tue that. I apologize Dave. No disrespect.
by CapHillSounder on Jun 23, 2011 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
is this a joke?
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 23, 2011 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Not to beat this into teh ground...
But you did read the story that this thread is attached to, right? It’s about this very rumor and has a comment from the Sounders GM essentially confirming his presence.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 23, 2011 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
His presence in the USA
there are conflicting reports if that is NYC or SEA
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
How can you all be so sure ?
I consider myself an educated football fan. I grew up in England, have personally watched matches at over 50 stadiums in Europe, I keep up to date with the major leagues in Europe and have been a Sounders season ticket holder for 4 years.
I have never heard of Prince Tagoe before this rumor started and all I’ve seen is a youtube video of his highlights.
How are you all so sure if it would be a good move or not ? I trust that the Sounders are looking for diamonds in the rough and that bringing previous unknowns like Montero, Alonso, Fernandez, Friberg and frankly even Nkufo is a good way to run the club. I just don;t understand how we can all get excited (or not) unless it’s players like Ljungberg, Cisse, Forlan, Drogba etc who most fans could actually have an opinion on.
If we are going to pay a lot of money for someone, I would prefer it was either someone unproven that we know well (like Montero, Zakuani) or someone that comes with a strong pedigree. If FC Hoffenheim wants to loan him out I would ask why we would want him if he costs big money ?
by Gonna Win The League on Jun 23, 2011 12:20 PM PDT reply actions
You not having heard of him does not mean he's not a very good player.
I’ve watched him play. I think he’s very good and would be one of (if not the) best players in MLS instantaneously. That’s why I’m excited.
by Aaron Campeau on Jun 23, 2011 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Did you watch the World Cup?
He played there. He was a solid to good player on a team that did fairly well.
And ignore his claims of a 10M$ contract. It isn’t true, and obviously isn’t true.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
a 10mil contract for a player reportedly sold for 9mil
would be beyond reason.
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Jun 23, 2011 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
The report has been rubbished
We really don’t need to pay attention to the $10M figure.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 23, 2011 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
He played a noticeable role in Ghana's world cup team
Larger than Fernandez did for Argentina (yes, I realise the two teams are not exactly equal in terms of starting talent). Having watched a few of their matches their I remember coming away with a very positive impression of his work. If you missed those matches here’s another way to look at it – If we consider Flaco a starting caliber upper echelon player in our league its reasonable to infer Tagoe is around the same quality at least, which would be a very welcome addition to our front line.
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Jun 23, 2011 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey!
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Jun 23, 2011 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions 5 recs
psst...
he played for uruguay
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 23, 2011 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah...
Hows that edit button coming along? ;)
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Jun 23, 2011 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Along the same vein
He showed very well while on loan to Partizan Belgrade (12g in 18 matches), a league rated about the same as Sweden (compare to Friberg’s status there and here) in the UEFA rankings.
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Jun 23, 2011 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Wait a second
We beat Argentina….. I don’t believe we’ve ever beaten Ghana……..
Just kidding…. but I thought I’d point that out. Argentina who? ; )
Can we start a new twitter meme?
#HanauerRumorDodge.
As in,
“He’s probably here visiting his dear sick aunt who only will meet her relatives at soccer matches. #HanauerRumorDodge”
“We are interested in any player that will help us and promises not to quit minutes before a match. #HanauerRumorDodge”
“We might be in negotiations regarding pizza toppings, contracts, or hottest hollywood bachelor. Just sayin’. #HanauerRumorDodge”
I know those aren’t great, but between Jeremiah, Dave, Aaron, and LikkitP, I feel confident we could get it trending…
by psygreen on Jun 23, 2011 2:10 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Where there is smoke, there is fire
And there is smoke pouring out from under Hanauer’s door right now.
You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. We are all around you, there is no escape.
Don't mind the smoke...
Thats just Adrian trying out a new Wood Fire Pizza oven for Mad Pizza. #HanauerRumorDodge
by DarthGreedo on Jun 23, 2011 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Don't mind the smoke
Adrian is just toasting the malt for the summer offering from Official Craft Brewing Partner Red Hook. #HanauerRumorDodge
You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. We are all around you, there is no escape.
Yes I watched the wrold cup. There were 32 different teams and over 576 players. I do not remember this guy ! Do you really remember him or did you go back and look ? I’m not trying to be an idiot here – I genuinely have never heard of him. I also had not heard of Alvaro Fernandez or Blaise Nkufo before they got attached to the Sounders. I amy have seen them play but only stand-out players stick in my memory I guess !
I am aware there are good players out there I have not heard of but my point was to ask how you guys all seem to sure that we SHOULD go for someone who is a fairly unknown entity
by Gonna Win The League on Jun 23, 2011 3:45 PM PDT reply actions
If there was a standout player at the World Cup that the casual fan remembers
he isn’t playing in MLS. Unless he’s Landon Donovan.
Not even Henry and Beckham would have gotten any significant PT at the world cup, and they’re the jewels of the league.
Nos Audietis
Absolutely correct
Henry was there. He was a sub in their last game. They lost and (as we all know) went home awfully early.
yep, I actually remember him.
I remember a player who gave defenses fits with his speed. I also remember him putting in a fine showing against the US. I think he’s a much more known entity than you’re suggesting based on his first team performance with Partizan. Hoffenheim also thought enough of him to bring him in, and his not playing there is more a function of relationship with the front office than quality from what I’ve read.
I too had never heard of or seen the other two, I promise this isn’t a case of soccer hipsterism :).
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Jun 23, 2011 6:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I remember him
I remember thinking he was really good, but do not remember anything specific about any of his plays or style.
Scoreboards, not billboards.
Regular season, not pre-season.
BTW – I’m on your side, I really WANT the Sounders to go out and buy a BIG forward who can run and who can score goals and win balls in the air. Enough of these Old slow big guys like Nkufo and Jaqua. I just question if this is the guy. He seems to have a decent pedigree but I always wonder why his current team would be prepared to unload him or loan him out. You typically don’t loan out your starters.
by Gonna Win The League on Jun 23, 2011 3:49 PM PDT reply actions
If we were in a different league, that would definitely be an issue.
In MLS, though, a league where people can come from the championship and be upper level players immediately, an international from a quarterfinal team, who featured in their group games, is about as good as it gets… if he can handle the physical pounding.
please learn to use the reply button
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter
by Jeremiah Oshan on Jun 23, 2011 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions
very true
And I’m not sure he’d be a consistent starter at Hoffenheim, however the front office really screwed the pooch with him, and he has no intention of going back (hence the Partizan loan).
Unfortunately we’re not a league yet where we go after big time starters or attract their interest. Tagoe is an instant upper level talent in this league. He’s young enough and hungry enough to move up that we likely would have him only a couple years if he works out well, but I think thats smart use of a DP slot (which he almost certainly would take).
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Jun 23, 2011 6:47 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
That would be sweet.
Seattle could have a King, Chancellor, and Prince among their major sport teams.
I fucking hate you Mariners
by kentroyals5 on Jun 23, 2011 4:54 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Chancellor?
i assume you mean player for the seahawks
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