A deal to send 2004 goalkeeper of the year and Rapids team captain Joe Cannon to the Kansas City Wizards is still in limbo.
Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said Thursday that the Rapids want Cannon to sign a new contract, but would entertain offers in the meantime as Major League Soccer prepares for its SuperDraft today from Philadelphia.
Cannon has one year left on his contract, and the Rapids want him to sign an extension or will trade him to protect the team from losing him at the end of the season for nothing. Clavijo said the Rapids and Cannon’s agent came to terms on money but are hung up on certain terms of the prospective deal.
Clavijo said if a trade is struck, the Wizards remain the most likely participant, although three or four teams have joined the race for 31-year-old netminder.
“I want to end this,” Clavijo said. “I want to end this back- and-forth situation.”
Cannon and his agent, Ron Waxman, both said Thursday they are working with the idea of remaining in Colorado.
Draft
Clavijo said the talent available in today’s SuperDraft is not very deep, something he attributed to the increasing talent level of MLS.
The Rapids have just three picks – the 21st, 33rd and 45th – in the four-round draft after giving up their first-round pick last year to the Columbus Crew in exchange for striker Jeff Cunningham. Clavijo swapped Cunningham last month for World Cup veteran Clint Mathis, a deal made possible when Real Salt Lake agreed to eat an undisclosed portion of Mathis’ salary for the next two seasons.
UCLA defender Marvell Wynne is projected to be the top pick, now held by Chivas USA.
Clavijo said the Rapids’ most pressing needs are on defense and at midfield. Clavijo believes Mathis can be the Rapids’ playmaking midfielder and wants to use Jovan Kirovski as a striker rather than at the attacking midfielder role he played last season.
Clavijo said the Rapids are close to using their allocation money to sign Argentine striker Nicolas Hernandez, 27, who was last playing in Chile.
Clavijo also said Cameroonian midfielder Alain Nkong may be returning to the club, a reversal from earlier reports that the 26-year-old was headed to Europe. Clavijo said he received an e-mail from Nkong on Wednesday stating his desire to return to Colorado.
Nkong started 20 games last season, scoring five goals and recording four assists.
Three players from Division II national champions Fort Lewis and one from University of Denver are on the list of 121 players eligible for selection today. Fort Lewis goalie Nick Clark (formerly of Durango High School), defender Bryan Eisenbraun (Green Mountain) and midfielder Cole Sweetser join Liam Girard, a standout defender for the Pioneers.
MLS draft
What: SuperDraft
When: Today, 10 a.m.
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia
* Chivas USA has the No. 1 pick.
* Rapids have the 21st, 33rd and 45th picks in the four-round draft.
