Rosell to Portugal Talks Continue UPDATE

Sporting's issues don't appear like they'll be getting any easier here in the near future. The rumored move of Oriol Rosell to Sporting Club de Portugal continues. Word out of Portugal today is that the deal is all but done that will see Rosell leave Sporting KC for Portugal. The fee is apparently around $1.36 million. The fee though seems a little low for the 21 year old midfielder who has become a consistent starter for KC.

It'd be a big blow for KC as Rosell's passing out of the deep lying midfield position has been key for Sporting's offense this season. 

Rosell had originally come to the US as a way to continue his education after starting his career with Barcelona's B team. In his first full season with the team he broke into the starting 11, replacing Julio Cesar as a deep lying midfielder.  

Rosell wouldn't be the first player that Sporting has pulled from MLS. They brought in former Seattle Sounder, Fredy Montero on loan before signing him to a contract. It looks like the Lisbon club will again dip into MLS for talent. And in the end this move should have always been seen as coming eventually. I couldn't see Rosell being in MLS long term. If and when the deal does go through, KC will get 2/3rds of the transfer fee with the other 1/3rd going to the league.

As for replacing Rosell, that's not going to be an easy task. Lawrence Olum has shown to have the defensive ability to play there, but with the injury to Ike Opara he is also now the primary back up at center back when both Matt Besler and Aurelien Collin are healthy. And while Olum and Rosell have been out, it's been Benny Feilhaber sitting in Rosell's role. He doesn't have the defensive capabilities of those two, but he can match Rosell when it comes to passing though.

UPDATE 6/3: Rosell is in Lisbon this morning, apparently to have a medical before signing his five year deal with the club.