CLOSING IN Source: Red Bulls-Angel deal completed, but no confirmation by MLS or team
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
East Rutherford, N.J. -- There were indications that the Red Bulls and MLS had completed the transfer of Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel from Aston Villa, although there was no confirmation whether paperwork was completed and approved by Sunday's MLS transfer deadline.
The deal between Angel and the Red Bulls has been completed, according to one source who was familiar with negotiations.
The Red Bulls would not confirm or deny that all the loose ends had been cleared up.
The acquisition could be announced as early as Monday.
A salary has been agreed to between the two parties. According to sources, there will not be a transfer fee because Villa won't have to pay Angel the final year of his contract.
Asked if the team might add a foreign player before the deadline, Red Bulls coach and sporting director Bruce Arena replied: "There's a possibility. We've been working on bringing in players since the season ended."
The Red Bulls have been courting the 31-year-old Angel for awhile.
If the paperwork was in order, Angel will become the Red Bulls' second designated player, having filled the slot opened by the trading of captain and playmaking midfielder Amado Guevara to Chivas USA last November. Former U.S. National Team captain and midfielder Claudio Reyna was the club's first DP.
The 6-1, 172-lb. Angel would give the Red Bulls what coach and sporting director Bruce Arena has been searching for this off-season -- a proven and experienced goal-scoring threat up front.
He is lethal in the air and is very technically sound.
At the moment, Arena doesn't have much from which to choose -- 17-year-old Jozy Altidore, who scored one goal and set up another in Sunday's 3-0 home-opening win over F.C. Dallas, a 30-year-old Clint Mathis, who also collected a goal and assist in the match, super-sub John Wolyniec, former Seton Hall standout Jerrod Laventure, who converted a penalty kick in the Red Bulls reserve win over Dallas Sunday, and rookie Randi Patterson.
Red Bulls technical director Jeff Agoos recently flew over to Birmingham, England to meet with Angel's representatives and to move along the deal, one source said.
Exact terms of Angel's deal were not known, though it was believed to be for two years, one source said.
A member of Aston Villa the past seven seasons, Angel has not seen much playing time with the English Premiership side lately, having been relegated to the reserve team.
Angel has experienced a disappointing season, having found the back of the net four times in 18 appearances, although he did score three goals in as many League Cup matches. Angel also played in one F.A. Cup game.
Born in Medellin, Colombia on Oct. 24, 1975, Angel also has played for Nacional Medellin (Colombia) and River Plate (Argentina).
He joined Villa as a club record $18.8 million transfer from River Plate for the 2000-2001 season. He has connected for 59 goals in 152 matches in all competitions for the EPL side, including a career-best 23 goals in 39 games during the 2003-2004 season.
