Report: Savarino linked with Brazil move, RSL talking with Atletico Mineiro

This isn’t the sort of news one likes to hear in the early days of preseason, but it’s come out anyway: Ives Galarcep is reporting that Real Salt Lake and Atletico Mineiro are in “advanced discussions” around the sale of Jefferson Savarino.

This news is interesting, particularly as Savarino has been repeatedly linked with a move to European clubs, including West Ham, in the last year. But a strong bid is a strong bid, whatever that may consist of.

It would be a particularly hard move for RSL fans at this point, with other talented attacking wide attacking players being allowed to leave the club. Joao Plata has been confirmed as away from Real Salt Lake, and Sebastian Saucedo signed with Pumas following the end of his MLS contract.

A departure for Savarino would essentially put RSL at ground zero with natural wingers, given no players of the sort have joined the club in the offseason. Corey Baird can certainly play there, but he’s also been deputized at striker repeatedly, as well.

There has however been an overriding sense that RSL must start selling players who excel and receive opportunities elsewhere, rather than having them walk for free.

We’ll keep listening for news about this one. It’s not something that’s come across my radar, which largely just means that this isn’t merely a parroting of rumors on Twitter. Galarcep is generally reliable, as well, so I would be surprised if there wasn’t fire along with this rumoring smoke.