ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman has tweeted that Toronto FC are on the verge of signing US national team and AS Roma midfielder Michael Bradley.
Ready for a blockbuster? I’m hearing @torontofc on the verge of signing Michael Bradley. Would be a huge coup for @MLS and @torontofc #USMNT
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) January 8, 2014
Bradley has become surplus requirements at Roma after they signed Radja Nainggolan from Cagliari this week.
It has not been a good month for USA midfielders, as Bradley’s midfielder partner in midfield Jermaine Jones is also looking for a new club with MLS a possible destination for the Schalke man.
Bradley will be a great signing for TFC, who are expected to also add Spurs striker Jermain Defoe this month.
When Tim Leiweke left his position as President of the LA Galaxy last year to become CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns Toronto FC and several other Toronto pro sports teams, people wondered what sort of signings that Leiweke would make in Toronto.
It took a little longer than many TFC fans thought, but these are two big moves by Leiweke. In Bradley he gets the best American midfield player, and in Defoe he gets a goalscorer he was scoring for England less than a year ago.
TFC has been an underperforming franchise for several seasons now. Great stadium and fans, but the performance on the pitch has been disappointing. Toronto missed the playoffs last season by a massive 20 points. The addition of Bradley and Defoe has to worth at least an additional 10 points this season.
So does the signing of Bradley, and Defoe, make TFC a playoff contender?
