TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
The long-running “will he or won’t he” speculation around Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and a potential move to MLS continues to chug along, with the Mexican star telling the Los Angeles Times that such an option remains on his mind.
That said, Chicharito – who’s been linked to Austin FC, Chicago Fire FCand LAFC over the years, among others – didn’t commit himself to much of anything.
“Yes. Definitely,” the striker told the Times’ Kevin Baxter when asked if he’d thought about joining an MLS side, sounding open but cautious about the prospect. “Look, I am always thinking about my future. I want to be as open as I can to any opportunity.
“MLS is a league that is improving. It is an opportunity. Every league is an opportunity.”
Now 31, Chicharito is in his first season at Sevilla, the surprise package thus far in Spain, currently running in second place in La Liga and prospering in the Europa League as they have so often in recent years. The El Tri veteran has appeared in 10 matches across both competitions, scoring three goals.
The Times report notes that Hernandez would likely be a pricey acquisition for MLS suitors, as he signed a three-year contract when he joined Sevilla from West Ham over the summer for a transfer fee reported at $8.5 million.
He’s supposedly on wages of around $3.3 million a year, a number an aggressive MLS bid could easily eclipse, but given his Spanish club’s reputation for savvy business dealings, it would probably require a hefty fee to extract him from Andalusia.
