Sounders linked to Brazilian defensive midfielder

There have been a few clues that suggest the Seattle Sounders may be looking at a targeting a more defensive-minded player this offseason. In addition to allowing Osvaldo Alonso to test free agency, Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey has also suggested he doesn’t see the attack as a huge area of need.

It’s in that context the rumor of the Sounders pursuing Brazilian defensive midfielder Jádson should be considered. The Sounders reportedly scouted the 25-year-old Fluminense player in early October — watching him score a pair of goals — and may have even met with him and his agents.

Judging by his highlight tape — always a questionable way to evaluate a player — Jádson is a deep-lying player who likes to get forward and flashes some impressive skill. He’s not anything like the pure destroyer that Alonso was, but more of a player who creates danger from deeper positions. He’s coming off probably his best season, but still had just two goals and two assists. He also averaged about 1.1 key passes and 1.2 successful dribbles per 90, while completing 86 percent of his passes. His 1.7 tackles and .8 interceptions per 90 are pretty middling by defensive-midfielder standards.

Transfermarkt estimates his value at about $1 million, which probably mean he’d be more of a TAM player than a DP and would likely be expected to compete for minutes with Gustav Svensson and Cristian Roldan.