Dutch transfer Sherjill MacDonald heading to Fire
BY SETH GRUEN For Sun-Times Media July 5, 2012 7:22PM
West Bromwich Albion v Everton - Premier League
Updated: August 7, 2012 6:38AM
Fire head coach Frank Klopas has indicated for three weeks that the team intended to sign a striker.
Multiple outlets are reporting that Sherjill MacDonald, who holds Dutch and Surinamese citizenship, is joining the Fire on a transfer. Tweets attributed to the unconfirmed account “@mackie84” indicate that MacDonald is expected to arrive in Chicago next week, pending receipt of his visa.
A team spokesman would not confirm or deny a MacDonald signing.
The Fire has its eight international roster spots, so if MacDonald is coming, someone will need to go.
It could acquire a spot from another team but when asked last week about the prospect of such a move, managing director of Fire holding company Andell Sports Group Javier Leon said he was not aware of such an initiative.
The more likely of scenarios would be selling the rights of midfielders Marco Pappa or Sebastian Grazzini.
Grazzini is unhappy with the current terms of his contract. The 31-year old Argentine had a team option on his contract exercised at the end of the month that keeps him under Fire control through the end of the season.
Despite the move, Grazzini has not seen action since the Fire’s 2-1 home win over Columbus on June 23.
Pappa, a member of the Guatemalan national team, has outplayed his contract which expires at the end of the season. Instead of allowing him to leave on a free transfer, the Fire could look to sell him.
Also, the Fire learned Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham has been suspended for Sunday’s game against the Fire at Toyota Park due to “confrontational and provocative behavior during and immediately following the Galaxy’s 4-3 loss at San Jose on June 30.”
