Juan Pablo Angel: Everything You Need To Know On What’s Happening And What May Happen

The following is everything you need to know about the discussion of Juan Pablo Angel to the Philadelphia Union:

• Angel is the Los Angeles Galaxy‘s third designated player, which is the maximum number of designated player spots that a team can have. The 35-year-old is making $1 million in base salary and $1.25 million in guaranteed compensation. At this point in the season, Angel’s salary is prorated at $477,941.18. A designated player’s cap hit is $335,000 for a full season and $167,000 halfway through the year, with the rest being paid out of the owners’ pockets. His contract runs out at the end of the 2011 MLS season.
• The Galaxy have acquired Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane for a transfer fee of 3.5 million pounds ($5.7 million). The Irish international will reportedly be paid $4.5 million-a-year in 2012 and 2013. To add Keane officially, the Galaxy need to free up one of those three designated player spots previously mentioned.
• MLS’ international transfer window ends at 11:59 pm tonight, Eastern time, which means that if Angel isn’t moved by then the Keane transfer is off. MLS internal transfers and trades, along with signings of American or Canadian players, are allowed until September 15.
• Soccer By Ives has said, through Twitter, that Angel is pushing for a trade to the Union. It’s that or retirement, according to Ives. If it means that Keane has a designated player spot, the Galaxy are bound to try to make it happen for the former Colombian international.
• Due to the situation that the Galaxy have put themselves into, any team that adds Angel from Los Angeles will have the upper-hand in the trade negotiations. The current speculation is that the Union will be able to have the Galaxy at least pay for Angel’s designated player wages.

Releasing Thorne Holder gave the Union an open international player slot, which Angel requires. The striker qualifies as an international player because of his Colombian citizenship and lack of an American green card or citizenship. Carlos Ruiz, who was sold by the Union to Mexican second division club Veracruz, has a green card and did not give the Union another international player slot to use.