Joan Verdu intends to stay at Espanyol, but MLS's long window could help Sounders' chances

Espanyol's financial troubles are so deep that staying up will not solve them. They still must cut payroll as they spent beyond their means for too long. According to a recent report in Marca, the leadership is open to extending Joan Verdu due to his history with the club and his leadership qualities. Verdu recently asked his agent to only negotiate with Espanyol.

While this may seem to bury the Seattle Sounders' chances of signing the La Liga attacker, this is the type of situation where the offset transfer deadlines may come MLS's favor. If Verdu and Espanyol can not reach an adequete deal, he would leave on a free at the end of their season or could be sold for a modest sum to a club in a league with an open window. The teams and the player could even use a six-month loan with an option to buy as a test of his interest in a permanent move.

There are going to be other teams with similar situations as well. Often fans look at likely to be relegated clubs, but there are even clubs with decent records losing significant money who could look to leagues like MLS, some in the Mid East and elsewhere with windows that remain open for days or even months after the more famous transfer window closes.