MLS
Carlos Vela gives clue on LAFC future
The Mexican forward’s contract expired at the end of 2023 and he has been looking to agree a new deal with the MLS club.
LAFC have a lot of work to do in the off-season if they are to build another team capable of competing for MLS Cup once again.
They have lost Diego Palacios, Giorgio Chiellini and goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and John McCarthy, while Kellyn Acosta and Carlos Vela are now free to sign with other clubs after the expiration of their contracts at the end of 2023. Acosta is rumoured to be close to a move to Chicago Fire, but the future of Vela is still hanging in the balance.
The Mexican has been a key player for LAFC in recent seasons and led them to the club’s first MLS Cup triumph in 2022. He captained the team last year but his on-field influence waned and the club is reluctant to offer the 34-year-old Designated Player another lucrative contract.
Carlos Vela removes ‘LAFC’ from Instagram
The Mexican forward has been a key pillar of LAFC’s success under Steve Cherundolo but it looks as if his time at the club has come to an end. The team is set to begin pre-season training on Monday but, ahead of the return, Vela has removed any mention of LAFC from his Instagram bio. This could suggest that he believes his time at BMO Stadium is over.
The club has not given any indication of Vela’s future and, with the new season less than six weeks away, time is running out for the player to secure a new deal. Publicly Vela has indicated that he is eager to stay.
Last month Vela told reporters: “We’ll have talks and we’ll see if I can carry on playing here. I’d be delighted to stay, but if not, I’ll look for something else and will keep enjoying the little time I have left playing soccer.”
The situation is complicated by Dénis Bouanga’s agitation for a move elsewhere. The 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner told the French media that he is eager to secure a return to Europe and Ligue sides Lens and Rennes are thought to have expressed an interest.
Bouanga is on a Designated Player contract in Los Angeles but earns far less than some of the leagues other top players. The club is desperate to retain Bouanga’s services but will likely have to offer the 29-year-old a lucrative new contract to do so. With that in mind, the club may be resigned to losing Vela in a bid to keep Bouanga.