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With Los Angeles Football Club presumably looking for a third goalkeeper for 2021, a report emerged publicly on Thursday indicating they may have targeted their man for the position.
LAFC are nearing a deal to trade for the MLS player rights for goalkeeper Tomas Romero from the Philadelphia Union, according to The Washington Post’s Steven Goff.
Trade in works: MLS sources say LAFC close to deal with Philadelphia Union for rights to homegrown GK Tomas Romero, Georgetown sophomore & Salvadoran youth intl who helped #Hoyas to '19 NCAA title. Unclear whether he will sign right away. Before college, played for Bethlehem/USL.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) January 14, 2021
Romero, 20, is a native of New Jersey who, as Goff mentions, won the 2019 College Cup with Georgetown. He has also played 17 games with the Union’s USL Championship team prior to college, and the Union have emerged as an academy program of note, selling two Homegrowns to Europe this winter and coming off winning the Supporters’ Shield with several academy products playing significant roles.
He’s also an El Salvador youth international, and seems to have a bright future. Having said that, given the extended eligibility in college due to the coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming spring NCAA season, it’s unclear if Romero would turn pro right away or stay with Georgetown in the short term. But when it comes to a 3rd string GK, as long as the first two on the depth chart are available, it isn’t a bad thing for the backup to the backup to be getting some playing time elsewhere anyway.
When asked about the report on Thursday, an LAFC spokesperson declined comment to Angels on Parade.
We’ll see what happens, but this seems like a plausible report, certainly. Romero also would be a good succession plan, if he’s up for it, after Kenneth Vermeer leaves LAFC and with Pablo Sisniega as the presumed starter of the future. But that’s all to be determined. If this comes together, we’ll be sure to let you know.
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