Recently in Trade Rumors Category

*Post updated 11:15 a.m.

You can bet the former Bruin playmaker would like a return to Southern California. But is another midfielder a priority for the Galaxy?

Read more here.

*The Galaxy will officially announce the signing at the end of practice today.

The Galaxy will also receive a second round draft pick in exchange for a international roster spot.

More here.

Chivas USA today announced the hiring of former San Diego Spirit coach Carlos Juarez, former Bayern Munich assistant coach Nick Theslof and goalkeeper coach Daniel Gonzalez to the club's coaching staff.

The trio join Carlos Llamosa as assistant coaches to Head Coach Martín Vásquez on the team's technical staff.

"These three coaches are talented, experienced, and perfectly suited to help this club move forward," Vásquez said. "Adding Carlos, Nick and Daniel, and with Carlos Llamosa already here, will help all our players, from youth teamers to experienced professionals, learn and develop."

In addition to formerly coaching the WUSA's Spirit, Juarez is a former coach of a variety of U.S. international youth teams and also coached the men's and women's teams at Cal Poly Pomona. The L.A. native was most recently with the Claremont Stars club as the organization's technical director.

Theslof, who takes on the new role of technical coach for Chivas USA, was on the staff at Bayern Munich with Vasquez.

He was also scout for the German National team at the 2006 World Cup and was the coach and GM for PDL club Orange County Blue Star from 2002-2007.

As technical coach, Theslof will work with players on various aspects of their performance, and will also help the club in both player and club scouting, Chivas USA officials said.

Gonzalez is an Argentine native who played with Rosario Central in a 16-year pro career and also was on the staff at the Colorado Rapids for three years.

BTW, Theslof is pretty close to Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers, who played for him at Blue Star and had a big influence on him during his formative soccer years. Wonder if that could help Chivas USA lure the U.S. international winger from the Columbus Crew, where Rogers saw his playing time diminish toward the end of last season?

Chivas USA opens preseason training camp Tuesday.

100 Percent Soccer has learned that both clubs have DVD's of central defender Jorge Guaga, 28, who has made 38 international appearances for the national team and made 224 appearances over the last 10 years while scoring 13 goals for the likes of El Nacional, Colón, Emelec and Barcelona (not that one).

Guaga's preference is to play in Southern California because of the large Ecuadorian population here.

Wanna see what Bruce Arena and Martin Vasquez are watching? Check this out:

Both Chivas USA and the Galaxy could perhaps do with a new central defender for next season, but Latin American defenders haven't fared as well here as midfielders or forwards.

Guaga is the second Ecuadorian reportedly linked to MLS in recent days. Edwin Tenorio, a defensive midfielder who played in the last two World Cups for Ecuador, is also apparently being shopped around the league, according to the Soccer Insider blog.

BTW, I spoke with a Chivas USA official today regarding the latest reports (stop me if you've heard this one before) that Jaguares striker Adolfo "Bofo" Bautista, sought by CD Guadalajara, could instead head to MLS, specifically Chivas USA.

Take this one one with a large grain of salt, I was told. It all could be part of the effort to up Bautista's price under the gentlemen's agreement between Mexican clubs that call for a transfer fee for a player even if he is out of contract (as Bautista is). One report has Chivas offering $1.5 million, while Jaguares want $2.6 million.

The loan deal for Landon Donovan would be of the short-term variety, similar to what he did earlier this year with Bayern Munich.

It would be a good shop window for Donovan as he either seeks a foreign club or strengthen his bargaining position with MLS over an improved contract.

Everton have little money to spend so it's unlikely to become permanent, but Everton manager David Moyes, who has worked with the likes of Brian McBride at the club level in the past, at least respects Americans more than your average English coach (or knows a good, relatively inexpensive deal when he sees one). Details here.

BTW, I should note Donovan (who is apparently on his way to Hawaii for a vacation as I write this) updated his Facebook page back on Dec. 1 thusly:

Just wanted to send a quick note regarding the Club America rumors. I certainly am interested but haven't heard anything yet...we'll see what happens.

Also:

*The alumni magazine of the University of Washington catches up with former Galaxy player Ty Harden to talk to him about his unusually selfless career move. The Galaxy's 2007 Defender of the Year player returned to MLS with the Colorado Rapids this year, playing in seven games.

*Lastly, former Sol defender Martina Franko (she was traded to the expansion Philadelphia Independence in October) and Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc are among nine nominees for the women's Canadian Player of the Year Award. (The other nominees are forward Christine Sinclair and Candace Chapman of FC Gold Pride, Sky Blue FC midfielder Kelly Parker, Washington Freedom goalkeeper Erin McLeod, Carmelina Moscato - who plays in Italy - and Rhian Wilkinson and Diana Matheson, who both play club soccer in Norway.

There's also a men's award with the usual suspects including Julian de Guzman and Dwayne De Rosario of Toronto FC.

Voting began today and runs through Dec. 20.

Vote here.

I took Monday off to extend the holiday weekend.

The column returns next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, while I take my mother-in-law to the airport this morning (yes!), check out the latest report of someone who was working Monday on the possibility of the Galaxy's Landon Donovan securing a new long-term MLS contract and potentially doubling his salary.

Again, no attribution given as to the source of the story. A plant by Donovan's agent as he plays both sides of the fence to extract the best possible deal for his client?

(AP Photo)

Could have some validity this time around, especially given the time of year and Donovan's interest in playing at a higher level than MLS. Will we see him wearing Club America's colors at Home Depot Center at InterLiga in January?

Here's the report at Univision.

And who owns Club America and Univision? Yep, same company.

Here's the (rough) Spanish language translation as provided by colleague Gene Maddaus:

According to information from Televisa Deportes, American striker Landon Donovan could be hired by the Aguilas del America for the Clausura 2010, as it is one of the objectives of President Michel Bauer.

He could come for the Interliga.

This was mentioned on the news of Televisa Deportes, but there were no comments from the president of the Aguilas on this subject.

The Aguilas hope to have Landon Donovan for the next Torneo Interliga, which awards two seats for the following Copa Libertadores de America, and also the "azulcremas" hope that he will be their main reinforcement for the Clausura 2010.

It should be remembered that this is not the first time that the name of the striker has made the rounds in connection with Coapa, as last august the brother of the former U.S. national team member Alexi Lalas signaled in a column that Donovan could find himself playing one day with the Aguilas, because the Galaxy striker has all of the requirements to be an "Americanista."

Landon Donovan is now on vacation, having finished his participation with the Galaxy, the squad that lost the MLS final to Real Salt Lake on penalties.

And here's another report out of Mexico.

Again, the rough translation provided by Senor Maddaus:

You only have to say the name Landon Donovan in Mexico to bring us bad memories.

Maybe because a few years ago he urinated on the sacred grass of the Estadio Jalisco; maybe because he is one of the best footballers on the continent; but that because he is an American we don't want to recognize it.

What is clear is that for six months his name has been rumored in Villa Coapa, the home of America.

Today, in the program "Estadio Total" on the "Televisa Deportes Network," Michel Bauer spoke well of the U.S. national team member.

"He is a good player, the sort of character that any team would want to have in its ranks," said the president of the "azulcremas"...

Donovan, who now plays for the Galaxy alongside David Beckham, has finished
his participation in the MLS, and as with the former Real Madrid star, has six months "free", in which he usually searches for an arrangement with a European league.

Certainly Donovan's character, his style of play and his certain "arrogance" would fit in well at America, a team that is the most obliged to win and to crush its rivals.

Who knows, but maybe the winter market can bring Donovan to America, with those who possibly, very possibly, would debut in the Torneo Interliga, which holds two tickets to the Copa Libertadores de America 2010.

No response from the Galaxy, BTW.

However, Arena reportedly said earlier today he expects Donovan back next season.

And Landon?

"We'll know soon," he told MLSnet.com. "From Bruce's standpoint, that's the plan of me being back. We'll know soon. I haven't had a ton of time to think about it, but we'll figure it out shortly."

Sigi Schmid is seen here getting pneumonia when bringing the MLS Cup to Seattle via a freezing Bainbridge Island ferry Thursday with Sounders Technical Director Chris Henderson in a publicity stunt. (AP Photo).

Among the best reasons to attend an MLS Cup if you're a journalist are the rumors, gossip, agents telling lies in hopes of getting clients work and rank and file folks jockeying for jobs.

After all, contracts are expiring and trades brewing (the expansion draft is next week).

So if we believe this former Galaxy Coach Steve Sampson will soon be joining Chivas USA.

Little attribution to the item beyond vague "sources" (perhaps Sampson himself), but it certainly has a kernel of truth as any potentially credible gossip/propaganda always does.

Pros include the fact Sampson lives locally (Calabasas), is probably relatively inexpensive (a Chivas USA hallmark) and speaks Spanish.

Cons include that ghastly 1998 World Cup, a destructive stint with the Galaxy punctuated by a fluky MLS Cup win and a penchant for backroom politics.

By coincidence, I e-mailed Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid this week (before he was hospitalized with pneumonia Thursday night and where he remained through Saturday) about the Chivas USA job.

A press box colleague had wondered recently whether Schmid, who grew up in the South Bay and still has a house (and wife) in Manhattan Beach, would be interested in the Chivas USA job since it's known he would like to work again in Southern California.

It's probably a case of the right job at the wrong time for Schmid who not only has unfinished business in Seattle, but owners and management he will demonstrate loyalty to after they rescued him from the Crew.

He jokingly e-mailed me: "The owners here are great. If Chivas paid me what they paid (former Coach Hans) Westerhof I would consider it."

Of course, Westerhof was on a CD Guadalajara-size salary, not an MLS one.

And what about Chivas USA?

Here's President Shawn Hunter's comment in an e-mail reply to a query about Schmid: "I have always been a Sigi fan."

Massive?

Italy's Livorno, back in Serie A this season, are reportedly eying Ricardo Clark and the Galaxy's Landon Donovan.

With those rumors picking up colleague Phil Collin spoke to Donovan after training today:

"My agent has been in discussions with a lot of different teams, but at this point I'm not worried about that. I'm not going anywhere in the immediate future. I'm enjoying being the captain of this team and doing well with this team."

And, naturally, Phil asked Landon whether he had spoken to David Beckham about the half time incident with the Riot Squad during Sunday's AC Milan game:

"You guys just won't let it go, will you? (almost a half-smile). I didn't say a word to David. I didn't know what had happened. He, I think, spoke to Bruce and it's over. We're moving on."

The Galaxy-Colorado Rapids game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (delayed until 10 p.m. on Prime) and fans should get there early for a free T-shirt and $1 pregame beers and hot dogs. Cheapo tickets, too.

The basics from the Daily Breeze.

The statistical comparison of the two teams from The Denver Post.

Preview from the Rapids blog From the Couch.

The always detailed MLS breakdown.

The unsubstantiated trade rumor of the week has this guy allegedly joining the Galaxy on loan.

Lastly, the new coach of Mexico is an old coach of Mexico.

Since I'm not in Nashville, site of the U.S.-Trinidad & Tobago World Cup qualifier, it's one of those days where I'm far more interested in watching soccer than blogging about it, especially with a tricky 4:30 p.m. kickoff (live on ESPN2) that requires TiVo and staying away from all things soccer-related.

Check out the link(s) to the right for the full slate of televised games.

I'll keep this brief:
*Here's the view on the game from a Trinidad & Tobago perspective.

*U.S. Soccer has more than you ever wanted to know with their typically detailed game notes.

*The rumor mill has this guy heading to the Galaxy, which begs the question: are they planning to replace a 37-year-old defender (Tony Sanneh) with a 35-year-old one?

*CONCACAF will announce the three four-team groups and schedule of games at 9 a.m. Thursday for this summer's Gold Cup set for July 3-26 in 13 U.S. cities.

Enjoy your day whatever game you watch or nation you support.