Herculez Gomez speaks on interest in playing in Seattle

While the focus of the interview (ESPN Insider, premium) was on how Herculez Gomez is not the player he was when he left MLS and his current contract situation with Santos Laguna, the American forward also said that he would be interested in playing for the Seattle Sounders, though not Sporting Kansas City. "I have to respect that I am still with Santos and I do have an existing contract, but Seattle would be of serious interest for me, absolutely," Gomez said. "How could you say no to such a great organization? What they've done in the short time they've been in the league has been amazing." ESPN Insider has more quotes as to why.

Sporting holds the rights to the player due to their previous contract offer when he left on a free. Allocation Ranking, thus, has no bearing on his return due to how he left MLS. The previous report from Grant Wahl was picked up in Mexico but no information is added.

Adrian Hanauer was asked about the Seattle Sounders interest in the forward today after practice. He said, "Yes. He was a Sounder many years ago. (laughs) ... No, [we] love Herc. Great guy, great player, but his rights are held with Kansas City, so any conversation of him coming to the league has to start with Kansas City."

As this story continues to gain momentum, one wonders if any other national teamer will even see a reporter's microphone when the United States faces Panama on June 11th. With Santos Laguna holding his rights through summer 2014 (per ESPN Insider) the timing of opening a DP slot is less complicated than previously thought, but would still require a trade with KC.