FC Cincinnati are reportedly finalizing a non-player trade to sign Inter Miami defender and USA international DeAndre Yedlin.
The former Newcastle United right-back has been key for the Herons in recent months with Yedlin playing a cornerstone role for Inter Miami since Lionel Messi’s arrival last summer.
A player who the Argentine international respects after last year’s Leagues Cup triumph, Yedlin has been a regular for Inter Miami this season, starring in Saturday’s Florida Derby against Orlando City.
FC Cincinnati set to sign Inter Miami defender DeAndre Yedlin
However, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, last year’s MLS Supporters Shield winners are close to signing Yedling, with Inter Miami set to receive $172,000 in General Allocation Money [GAM].
With Yedlin Inter Miami’s only natural right-back, the decision to accept Cincinnati’s offer for the 30-year-old defender is an unusual one, to say the least.
Whilst Inter Miami have options who can play in the position, Yedlin’s pace and defensive intelligence made the former Premier League star an ideal option to operate in the role under Tata Martino.
However, with the Herons now accepting this trade, the Florida franchise might have something up their sleeve ahead of the summer transfer window, with another big name from Europe potentially on the cards.
Herons must have something planned for shock trade to happen
Yedlin’s reputation at Inter Miami has made this trade one of the most surprising in quite some time in MLS, with the defender one of the most respected figures at the club.
Yet for the Herons to accept this trade, Martino’s side must have something planned behind the scenes for a transfer of this magnitude to actually make sense.
The summer could see a big-name defender join the club to partner Jordi Alba on the other side of the fullback position, and Inter Miami could upgrade on Yedlin if they play their cards right in the coming weeks.