Whitecaps close to major signing involving "Scottish Messi" Ryan Gauld

Jun 22 2021, 11:45 pm

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ seemingly never-ending search for a No. 10 attacking midfielder could be coming to an end with a report linking the club to the “Scottish Messi.”

The ‘Caps are interested in signing Scottish midfielder Ryan Gauld, who is currently playing with SC Farense in Portugal, according to a report from AFTN Vancouver reporter Michael McColl.

The 25-year-old Gauld would be exactly the kind of offensive playmaking threat the Whitecaps have been looking for — a creative attacker that can score goals while also distributing and setting up his teammates.

Gauld joined SC Farense on a two-year contract in 2019, and scored nine goals and added seven assists in 33 matches last season. The Aberdeen native earned praise as one of the top playmakers in Liga NOS.

Despite his terrific form in Portugal, it wasn’t enough for GauldĀ to earn a spot on Steve Clarke’s roster for Scotland at Euro 2020. With Scotland crashing out of the Euro’s earlier today, there were once again questions surrounding Gauld’s exclusion from the squad.

Gauld could be primed for a move out of Portugal with SC Farense being relegated to the second division. Gauld has been linked to leagues all over Europe including the English Championship, Scottish Premiership, and Liga NOS.

The MLS secondary transfer window opens on July 7, but that might not be a factor in the Caps’ pursuit of Gauld. Since SC Farense was relegated, a potential club option may no longer be valid. That would allow Gauld to sign as a free agent and Vancouver would not have to pay a transfer fee.

Transfermarkt currently lists Gauld’s transfer value at $5.50 million. The rumoured salary of $3 million per season would make Gauld the highest paid player in Whitecaps history.

Gauld would be a tremendous addition to the Whitecaps attack and could be that missing link between the midfield and strikers. Striker Lucas Cavallini hasn’t been able to work with a playmaking option underneath him since arriving in Vancouver, and Gauld would be a massive coup for the Caps.

The Whitecaps have scored seven goals in eight matches this season and have yet to score a first-half goal. Vancouver sits second bottom in the MLS Western Conference with a 2-5-1 record.

Vancouver will host the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night in Sandy, Utah, as they look to snap a four-match losing streak.

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