Jul 29
FC Dallas Is Now Set to Keep Cooper
This is getting quite ridiculous. Yesterday, I got word from a reliable source that all Cooper had to do was sign his new contract and he was off to either Rosenborg or Cardiff City. Now, that same source is reporting that FC Dallas has done a complete u-turn. They’re now prepared to keep Cooper in order to make a serious push for the playoffs, something that I’ve been hoping they would do for a while now. We thought yesterday with the departure of Arturo Alvarez and the imminent departures of both Kenny Cooper and Juan Toja that Dallas was giving up on the current season and focusing on the next one. Dallas has now done a complete 180, and is keen on keeping Cooper. This is the most sensible move that Dallas has made all season. Losing Kenny Cooper would be like throwing the season away due to the fact that he is almost single handedly responsible for the current playoff position.
FC Dallas also realized that keeping Cooper could be even more profitable when he can make a move in the winter. If he can continue to score goals for the Hoops, he could command a transfer fee closer to $6 million. That’s just a rough estimate but it’s certainly a transfer fee that is much more appealing than the $4 million they would have got if they sold him now.
MLS is ready to offer Cooper a new contract that would be a significant improvement over what he currently makes. Cooper’s current salary is around $100,000 and the new contract MLS is offering would bump him up to $300,000 with incentives pushing the number to $400,000. This is still a far cry from the salary both Cardiff and Rosenborg are prepared to pay. Sources have put a proposed salary if he were to move at about $1 million.
The Hoops also had their current standing in the league to think about. If they sold Cooper, where were the goals going to come from? They are close to bringing in Ariel Ortega, but at 34 years of age, he can’t be considered as good as Cooper would be.
My personal thoughts are that Dallas has finally come to their senses. Cooper is only going to bring in more money for them in the winter and he is key to any playoff aspirations.
What do you think of Dallas keeping Cooper? Do you think he will welcome the news he’ll be staying? What kind of transfer fee might he get in the winter? Your thoughts below
July 29th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Thank God. that is all i have to say.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
For Dallas, this is great news. For Kenny and the National team, I dunno. It seems like Bob Bradley only likes to take European guys, unless he has no other choice, or you happen to have been on his chivas squad.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
yeah its great news for FC Dallas. At this point though, I can’t see Bradley ignoring Cooper any longer. I think he’ll bring him into camp for the upcoming qualifier. He’s already under a lot of heat and he’s bound to bring him in soon.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:00 am
Ryan I don’t know where you get your info from Bradley has been using Mo Edu, Jozy before he went to Europe….LD and various other MLSers he puts out the best team he thinks he can and yes most of those players will come from Europe
July 30th, 2008 at 2:05 am
don’t forget Ricardo Clark. Where I do agree with Ryan is that generally they select players from Europe because the best players play in Europe. If MLS could keep the best players, then most would be from MLS, unfortunately, they can’t.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Yeah I said there were others…I also left out Hejduk there are probably more I forgot. I also did say that Bradley will put the best team he can out and those players will come from Europe generally. Your point is correct Max as of right now MLS can’t keep all the best players (though we are seeing a bit of a change with Cooper apparently)