With contract rumors swirling, Sporting Kansas City’s Alan Pulido has upped his game

Since the start of last season, Sporting KC had pointed to the absence of club-record signing Alan Pulido as a primary reason things weren’t going well on the field.

The impact of his absence is even more evident now that he’s back.

As agents posture and rumors from his native Mexico swirl (Pulido’s contract expires at the end of the 2023 season), he is playing some of his best soccer since signing with Kansas City in December 2019.

After his penalty-kick goal rescued a point last Sunday, Pulido, 32, fielded questions in English — a show of effort on his part to continue assimilating into his current environment A reporter from goal.com asked him about rumors linking him to teams in Mexico.

“I know there are offers and that teams are interested in me in Mexico,” Pulido responded. “My agent is analyzing, and we are seeing the best option.”

Six months before the end of a player’s contract, a window to negotiate that player’s next contract opens. This allows teams outside Major League Soccer to negotiate a contract that would start when Pulido‘s current deal expires. To get him sooner, teams would have to negotiate a transfer fee with Sporting KC.

Cruz Azul sporting director Oscar “Conejo” Pérez told reporters that he hopes to initiate negotiations with Pulido’s representatives soon. And Pulido’s previous club, Chivas, has long been rumored to be in contact with Pulido’s agent about a return.

Some speculate that teams could be negotiating to acquire Pulido during the summer window. But Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said Tuesday that club officials had not been contacted by any team regarding Pulido.

When asked if Sporting KC would entertain a bid for Pulido that would see him leave this summer, Vermes said, “I don’t deal in hypotheticals.”

Letting Pulido go this summer wouldn’t align with Vermes’ goal of making a run at another championship. Another scenario is that Sporting KC simply extends Pulido’s contract.

Vermes has made it known that Sporting is negotiating with Pulido, and the player acknowledged as much on Wednesday.

“We are also having talks here (with Sporting) about my future,” Pulido said. “But nothing is concrete, and we’ll see in the upcoming weeks and months what happens.”

Pulido’s recent run of form might be ramping up the pressure to get something done. Entering Saturday night’s match against the L.A. Galaxy, Pulido had scored seven goals in his 10 most recent games. He has made the MLS Team of the Week twice and MLS Player of the Week once.

Sporting’s record with Pulido over that 10-game stretch: 5-2-3.

When Pulido was out following his first knee surgery in October 2021, Sporting KC went 13-22-10 with a -19 goal difference. When he plays, Sporting KC is 25-13-10 in regular-season MLS competition with a +26 goal differential.

Simply put, when he’s healthy, Pulido’s performances are worth what Sporting KC paid to get him. And especially of late, he seems motivated to earn his next contract.

But his lack of consistent availability over the last four seasons makes this contract saga an especially interesting one. Pulido has played in just 48 of Sporting’s 109 regular-season games since his arrival in KC. Is Sporting convinced he’ll be available more regularly over the life of his next contract? The phrase “the best ability is availability” comes to mind.

For now, unless things change drastically, the focus for Pulido is simply what’s next for Sporting KC. Sporting (5-9-6) plays host to the Chicago Fire (4-6-8) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park.

“I’m focused on working on me and doing my best, whether that’s here with Sporting or any other team in Mexico,” he said.