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The Toronto FC transfer ticker has been pretty quiet of late. Beyond expressing their interest in signing a new Designated Player and stating that management has been in contact with several targets, news linking players to the club has been minimal.
But with the month of January nearing its conclusion, at long last perhaps we have been given a peak into Toronto FC’s plans. The club has been linked to 25-year-old River Plate striker Rafael Santos Borre hinting, if nothing else, at the profile of player the club is after.
Borre is a 25-year-old Colombian international striker joined the Argentine giants in 2017, helping them win the 2018 Copa Libertadores. He was also second in scoring in this year’s edition of the competition with seven goals. River Plate were eliminated in the semifinal round. Before joining River Plate, he spent time with Atletico Madrid, although he did not make a senior appearance.
A source has told me that Toronto is back in the race to sign Borre from River Plate. His numbers would be around 4.1m annually on a 4 year deal. They’re trying to get this across the line this coming week. Stay tuned. #TorontoFC
— Will Forbes (@TransfersMLS) January 30, 2021
It goes without saying that a player of his caliber would not come cheap, either in terms of the salary he would command or the transfer fee. Will Forbes suggests that he would likely cost 4.1 million per season, which would put him just ahead of Alejandro Pozuelo. The most the club has ever spent on a transfer was the reported $9 million euros it cost to pry the Spaniard from Genk. Borre is currently valued at $11 million by transfermarkt. Forbes also previously reported that Inter Miami owns the players’ discovery rights.
It’s also worth noting that the Colombian is reportedly out of contract in the summer, which has peaked interest around the globe for his services. He has consistently been linked with a move out of Argentina and back to Europe, with several Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A teams reportedly circling.
Borre has almost exclusively played as an out and out striker for River Plate, recently as part of a two striker system alongside Matias Suarez.
With Jozy Altidore, Ayo Akinola, Patrick Mullins and Jordan Perruzza already on the payroll for the upcoming season, it is somewhat surprising the club would be looking to add another number nine. Perhaps this suggests new Toronto FC manager Chris Armas might be willing to play with two strikers, something he did sparingly at best during his time with the New York Red Bulls. Or perhaps the news with Altidore that surfaced yesterday does indeed have legs.
Either way, Toronto FC have been clear from the jump that they want to add more goals this offseason and will be using the Designated Player spot vacated by Pablo Piatti to do so. The club finished 14th in the league last year in terms of goals scored per 90.