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It would appear the Seattle Sounders may have more than one addition left to make before the close of the summer transfer window on Aug. 8. With Paolo Hurtado’s signing seemingly imminent, a new name has emerged: Australia international left back Brad Smith.
Looks like AFC Bournemouth defender Brad Smith is on his way to the #MLS. Understand the former #lfc full-back is joining Seattle Sounders on loan until next summer. #afcb
— Chris Wise (@chriswisey) August 3, 2018
The Bournemouth Echo says the the move would be structured as a one-year loan, but the Cherries would have the ability to recall him in January.
The 24-year-old has an intriguing resume, logging 10 Premier League appearances with Liverpool and Bournemouth and 19 senior national-team caps for Australia. Among those national team appearances are 11 starts during the Socceroos’ 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. Smith moved to Bournemouth last year on a transfer that reportedly cost £3 million.
Smith has mostly played as a left back, where he’s picked up four assists and two goals in 50 appearances at various levels. He’s also got a goal and six assists in 13 appearances as a left midfielder. A knee injury limited his availability last year and was apparently a significant reason why he was left off Australia’s World Cup roster.
The potential signing does raise a few questions, however. First off, is the simple issue of how he’d fit onto the roster. The Sounders only have one international spot open and Smith would presumably be the second international they are hoping to add. Either the Sounders expect someone to pick up a green card soon or they’d need to trade for one. The other big question is what Smith’s signing might mean for Nouhou. The 20-year-old has been among the Sounders’ better defenders during the recent run of form and doesn’t seem like an obvious candidate to be benched. It’s possible the Sounders simply see Smith as a player capable of bolstering the left side of the team, but it could also mean that they are lining up a potential transfer for Nouhou.
Either way, this is the second left back the Sounders have been linked to, which at least suggests it’s a position they’ve been looking at for a potential addition.