Rumor Mill: RSL linked with Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo, Aubrey David on FC Dallas loan?

With the transfer window nearing an opening, Real Salt Lake has been linked alongside New York Red Bulls with Oscar Cardozo, a 33-year-old Paraguayan striker playing at Turkish club Trabzonspor.

That link is as tenuous as you’d think, coming largely from an unconfirmed Twitter report.

Cardozo, 33, moved to Turkey in 2014 after a seven-year career at Benfica, and Transfer Markt cites his goalscoring record as an outstanding 157 goals in 258 matches.

If it seems unlikely that RSL would be looking for a 33-year-old striker right now, consider that general manager Craig Waibel has made statements in the last week about discussions with MLS clubs about player movement. If that’s of the outgoing variety and one of Olmes Garcia and Devon Sandoval are shipped out of the club, don’t be entirely surprised if something happens.

Cardozo and his goalscoring consistency across his career would be a certain upgrade to the squad, were it to come to fruition. Stranger things have happened, but this one does seem a bit out of the blue.

That argument is strengthened by additional rumors positing a move to several Argentine clubs for Cardozo, including Rosario Central and Racing Club. This could simply be the machinations of an agent

Aubrey David to FC Dallas?

If the latest rumors are to be believed, Real Salt Lake may not be in the running for Aubrey David — at least not any more. The latest rumors from Costa Rican media place him as landing at FC Dallas on loan.

David, a versatile defender from Trinidad and Tobago who had been playing at Saprissa, had been linked with Real Salt Lake late Thursday. We reported on those rumors late Friday evening.

Both reports highlight one important fact: Don’t rely on the rumor mill for anything accurate — at least not with confirmation. We’ll be on the look out for corroborating reports.