Sporting KC exploring offers for forward Soony Saad

Sporting Kansas City will be absent one of its forwards when it embarks on preseason training camp next week.

Soony Saad will not join the team for the first wave of camp in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the club is exploring deals involving the 25-year-old forward. The situation is expected to have a resolution sometime during the preseason, but a landing spot has not yet been settled.

Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes confirmed Saad is involved in “player movement” discussions, adding, “We’re trying to find the best fit for everyone.”

Saad has played two stints in Kansas City, separated by a two-year hiatus in Thailand. His second tenure appears to be over after just one season. In 2017, he played in 12 MLS matches, including six starts, and registered no goals and one assist.

Sporting KC acquired him initially in 2011. He scored eight goals in 58 matches over the ensuing four seasons before signing with BEC Tero Sasana in Thailand. After a nine-goal output in 2016, he returned to Kansas City but found himself buried on the depth chart, particularly late in the season.

Even after Sporting KC traded striker Dom Dwyer, it did not result in significant minutes for Saad. He appeared in just one of the final 10 matches, a seven-minute spell.

Sporting KC defender Kevin Ellis also will not join the team for preseason camp, Vermes confirmed. Ellis has been the subject of trade discussions this offseason after he and the club mutually agreed on a leave of absence late last summer.

This story was originally published January 20, 2018 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Sporting KC exploring offers for forward Soony Saad."