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Toronto FC are once again being linked to another potential addition to the back four. This time there are reports suggesting that the club could be close to completing a deal for Moroccan international Ahmed Kantari who was most recently with Lens of Ligue 1 in France.
The 30-year-old central defender could be signed to fill the hole left behind by the recently retired Steven Caldwell as it is clear that TFC are actively looking for someone to partner Damien Perquis in the middle of their back line. He has plenty of experience under his belt including 16 caps with Morocco as well as being a regular starter for both Brest and Lens in recent years.
Reports in France suggest that Kantari had a deal in place to join Dijon on a three-year contract but has since backed out of that deal in favour of making the move to Toronto. The move to back out of the deal has not made Dijon happy but it could work out well for TFC if he does turn out to be the defensive help that they have been after the past few weeks.
While Kantari does have plenty of experience on his resume he has never really established himself as a top calibre defender. He was a regular starter for RC Lens in the 2014-15 season but could not do anything to save the team from relegation as they finished last in the league while giving up 61 goals in 38 matches.
Compared to some of the other names that TFC have been linked to in recent weeks, Kantari is one of the least attractive. If the team is looking for someone to really shore up their back-line it is hard to imagine that he would be the solution.
Given that Kantari seems to be best suited to being a Ligue 2 defender it raises some questions about just how he would do in MLS. He could be a good signing if he is brought in for a role other than to partner Perquis at CB but if he is the only defensive addition that the club makes this month it should raise a few eye brows as it is hard to imagine him being a significant upgrade over Eriq Zavaleta given his performances in recent seasons.