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Real Salt Lake’s move for Landon Donovan may not be going as well as the club would have hoped, with soccer writer Steve Davis saying RSL coach Jeff Cassar “didn’t sound overly optimistic” about the deal.
While Davis, on Twitter, didn’t go into detail about his conversation with Cassar, his impression may be confirmed by the fact that discussions remain ongoing between Donovan and RSL at this point. That much has been confirmed by RSL Communications.
Also spoke w @RealSaltLake mngr Jeff Cassar at #USMNT training. Didn't sound overly optimistic the Landon Donovan deal would work out
— Steve Davis (@SteveDavis90) January 11, 2017
There are CBA restrictions on Donovan & how much of an #MLS raise he can get; Cassar didn't go into details, but I believe that's the issue
— Steve Davis (@SteveDavis90) January 11, 2017
Earlier in the week, we discussed the possibility that the move could be hampered by MLS and CBA restrictions on free agency.
Whether that’s the reason behind this or not remains to be seen, but I had a good conversation on Twitter with Steven Bank, professor of business law at UCLA, about his interpretation of the relevant portions of the CBA. His reading was, in some ways, more generous toward Donovan’s situation than mine.
Plenty of wiggle room in CBA's 29.8(iv) + (v) for League + Union to grant waiver to sign Donovan at > 115% raise. Someone must be against it https://t.co/Y5gb2fYFsV
— Steven Bank (@ProfBank) January 7, 2017
@TheCrossbarRSL (iv) allows for overperformance over career v. current K and (v) allows for overperformance in the future over current K
— Steven Bank (@ProfBank) January 7, 2017
@TheCrossbarRSL Point is if there was a will, there would be a way. Sounds like MLS' will is lacking. Any other FA waivers granted thus far?
— Steven Bank (@ProfBank) January 7, 2017
We’ll see what happens with this one, but keep in mind: RSL Communications did confirm today that conversations were ongoing between Donovan and RSL (and perhaps MLS.) We’ll just have to sit on this one a little longer.