With time running out on the winter transfer windows across Europe, there seems to be a significant uptick in Obed Vargas rumors. First, there was a report that Italy’s Lazio was so interested in the 20-year-old midfielder that they were willing to make a €15 million offer. Then came a story that claimed Vargas was being pursued by as many as 10 clubs across the five biggest leagues in Europe. The most notable report comes from ESPN and says he has offers from four European leagues, plus some clubs in Mexico and in MLS, noting that his preference is to go to Spain.
Jeremiah Oshan
Taken individually, I’m not putting a whole lot of stock in them. The idea that Vargas went from not getting any offers to so many that he essentially has the pick of the litter stretches credulity. But taken as a total package, it at least tells me that someone is pumping reporters with this information, which could mean nothing or it could mean there’s actually some movement.
The other recent development that is making me believe something could come together relatively late is the transfer of Alex Freeman from Orlando City to Villarreal. The 21-year-old right back just completed a move that guarantees Orlando City $4 million and has add-ons that could push it to closer to $7 million, plus a sell-on percentage. Like Vargas, Freeman was entering the final year of his contract and had expressed some desire to eventually move on a free transfer. Realistically, this is probably the ceiling on what the Sounders could hope to get for Vargas at this point.
Both Niko Moreno and I have been putting calls out to try to confirm some of this stuff and have been met mostly with radio silence. That certainly doesn’t mean any of this is real, but it’s notable that we’ve previously been able to confirm when rumors are simply false.
One way or another, though, this will likely all be settled by the end of the weekend. If no last-minute offer arrives, Vargas will most likely play out the final year of his Sounders contract and then assess his options as a free agent. There is some chance that he could still choose to return, but that does not seem especially likely given that he’s already turned down multiple contract offers from the Sounders.
