Don't give up on Sounders' pursuit of Nicolas Lodeiro just yet

Boca Juniors have rejected the Seattle Sounders' latest offer for Nicolas Lodeiro, according to an Argentinian publication. That news may come as a bit of a blow to anyone who had visions of Lodeiro dancing through MLS defenders and piling up assists for a resurgent Sounders attack. But don't go giving up hope just yet.

The reality is that there's not much in this report that suggests anything is really final. The biggest caveat in the story is that Lodeiro has apparently agreed to personal terms with the Sounders, meaning this is all about a transfer fee. Boca Juniors had already rejected an earlier proposal from the Sounders, and it's not clear if this is a second rejection or merely following up on something that happened previously.

The other reason to hold out hope is that the report states Boca Juniors intend to keep Lodeiro through Copa Libertadores, which is also nothing new. All along, Lodeiro's agent has been telling any media willing to listen that his client wants to stay with Boca Juniors through the tournament.

That would obviously delay Lodeiro's arrival, perhaps pushing it back until September -- Boca Juniors could potentially be playing Copa Libertadores until the end of July and there's reason to think the Sounders would then give him a break -- but it doesn't necessarily close the door, either.

The Sounders have been predictably tight-lipped, of course, and we're unlikely to get anything like a confirmation one way or the other until something is final. If history has shown us anything, it's that the Sounders tend to get players they want if those players truly want to be here and it still looks like Lodeiro is interested in a move.