Anyone with a set of eyes can see that Fredy Montero has been playing at Designated Player level for most of the season for the Seattle Sounders. The 23-year-old Colombian has 10 goals and nine assists this season, but more importantly he's expanded his game beyond the flare of his inaugural MLS campaign.
Seattle Sounders Express Willingness To Make Fredy Montero Third DP
Of his 10 goals, four have been game-winners and three others have given his team the lead or tied the game. Only one goal has come in a losing cause. He also has three game-winning assists. Most of those came while he was his team’s lone scoring threat, and his play was hugely responsible for the Sounders’ ability to turn around their season. Although his scoring has faded recently, he’s still creating opportunities for teammates.
He’s suddenly playing defense like a midfielder, scoring like a striker and leading like a captain. Considering his age, his suddenly remarkable fitness and, obviously, his skill, it would only make sense that the Sounders would be trying to lock him up.
Adrian Hanauer, speaking on ExtraTime Radio, finally confirmed those suspicions.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations with Fredy, especially now that the transfer window has passed,” Hanauer said. “We’d like to see him here for lot of years and if that means using a Designated Player slot on him, we won’t be shy about doing that.
"Blaise Nkufo aside and the success he’s having, we do like the idea of focusing energy on younger Designated Players and, from a financial standpoint, it makes sense because if we bring one in, we maybe can sell the player out and it’s good for everyone."
While this may be a logical conclusion, it should be noted that a month or so ago, Hanauer was singing a slightly different tune. Back then, when speculation about Montero becoming the Sounders' third DP this season was starting to swirl, Hanauer said the current salary cap structure made it hard to have so many highly paid players on one roster. Assuming Blaise Nkufo returns to the team next year and Alvaro Fernandez is still classified as a Designated Player (both are not exactly sure things), this would seem to represent a change in tact by the Sounders front office. Is this a harbinger of even further changes in the DP rule or is it merely the Sounders bowing to inevitability? With MLS, it's probably best not to speculate.
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