There was at least some fire causing all that Obed Vargas-transfer rumor smoke, it appears. None other than Atlético Madrid — the club Vargas has been a fan of since a young age — is in talks with the Seattle Sounders about a potential move, according to The Athletic. Fabrizio Romano is also saying that the deal has been completed with the only question being if he goes on loan or stays with Atlético. Spain’s transfer window closes on Monday.
As of Sunday afternoon, details are still extremely vague. There are no dollar amounts attached to this rumor, nor is it clear when Vargas would be expected to leave the Sounders.
Tim Ostlund-Foss
Even if a deal is struck, it's entirely possible that Vargas could remain with the Sounders through the summer. Considering the caliber of teams apparently interested in Vargas, it seems unlikely that they'd be looking for him to join at midseason. Remaining with the Sounders, then, would give him a much clearer path to playing time and optimize his chances of making the Mexico World Cup roster. Vargas has just three senior national team caps, but has apparently impressed assistant coach Rafa Marquez, who is reportedly being allowed to pick several players with an eye toward the future.
The Sounders seem unlikely to be driving a hard bargain at this point. Vargas has made clear that he intends to leave at the end of his current contract, and this is likely the Sounders' last chance to cash in. While the Sounders are unlikely to extract maximum value at this point, a modest fee combined with a future sell-on percentage would be significant. If he's also allowed to stay here until the World Cup, it's even better.
