Toronto FC offer Santos Borré mega deal - Also linked to Palmeiras

Toronto FC want to sign 25-year-old Colombian striker Santos Borré from River Plate. Toronto are understood to own the player's MLS Discovery Rights, which means they have first refusal among Major League Soccer teams to sign the forward. Competition, however, is high; a report by TyC Sports on Wednesday suggests that Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras, as well as MLS teams New York City FC and Minnesota United, are also interested. 

This article originally appeared on Feb. 24 and has since been updated. 

MLS transfer rules, however, mean that only Palmeiras is a strong competitor for his signature. Toronto would have to give up their Discovery Rights first for either Minnesota or NYCFC to move ahead on signing $16.5 million rated Santos Borré on a free agent deal next summer. There is some possibility that that could happen, however.

Update Mar. 5: Toronto FC have made their next move in their attempt to sign Santos Borré. According to a report by UOL Esporte, the Reds have offered the striker a three-year $5 million a season contract. With that deal on the table, it now appears Toronto is in the pole position to sign the striker.  

A report by the Waking The Red in February suggested that Toronto might opt to move for a younger target instead to make use of the new U22 Designated Player rule introduced by MLS this season. The rule, in theory, allows clubs that have one Designated Player (DP) slot available to sign three U22 DPs for a budget charge of just about $150,000. Clubs with no DP slots available can only sign one additional U22 DP. Toronto currently have Jozy Altidore and Alejandro Pozuelo under DP contracts. 

Santos Borré: Competition from Palmeiras and questions about squad building for TFC 

The Colombian is a top striker in Argentina and has scored 45 goals in 125 games from River Plate, including seven goals in 11 Copa Libertadores games last season. Exactly what Toronto FC need, in particular, as Altidore is now 31 and Ayo Akinola is headed into his final contract year—Akinola already had offers from Europe. 

Whether Toronto FC can convince Santos Borré is another question. The 25-year-old is currently in his prime, and Palmeiras aside will entertain offers from Europe this summer as well. Either way, he would be a big transfer for the club; his current market value would make him the second most valuable MLS player behind Diego Rossi.