TRANSFER TRACKER:Report
Sporting Kansas City might not be done wheeling and dealing on the international market, and Velez Sarsfield center back Lautaro Giannetti could be their next target, according to a report from Argentine journalist Agustin Sileo.
Giannetti, 26, currently captains the club, which is fourth in the Argentine Superliga standings. He’s reportedly under contract through 2022, after having signed a new contract in September, so any move would require a transfer fee.
The defender made his debut for Velez Sarsfield in 2012, and has since amassed over 80 appearances. At the international level, he's represented his native Argentina at the U-20 level and at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.
Should Giannetti join Sporting, he’d be their second center back signing of the offseason. Last week, the club added Croatian defenderRoberto Puncec to its roster, continuing a trend of looking to Europe after adding Botond Barath (Hungary) and Andreu Fontas (Spain) in 2018. The club already has former US men’s national team staple Matt Besler and 2018 SuperDraft pick Graham Smith on the books.
After finishing 11th in the Western Conference standings in 2019, Sporting has been busy trying to bolster a veteran-heavy squad before the next campaign gets underway. On Tuesday, they landed their long-clamored-for No. 9, Mexican star Alan Pulido, to boost the attacking third.
They also allowed 67goals during the 2019 season, which was second-worst in MLS behind expansion club FC Cincinnati. Shoring up the defensive ranks, in all likelihood, is a top priority for Peter Vermes and his staff.
