Mondragon exits Union; could Le Toux be next?

WHEN the January transfer window closes today, it won't include an announcement that Union forward Sebastien Le Toux is leaving for Bolton - but it might end with Le Toux headed to Vancouver.

The Daily News has learned that Le Toux is still being shopped, and he could be obtained by an MLS bidder. Although the window doesn't directly affect player movement within Major League Soccer, England-based London Daily Mirror writer Alan Nixon, who kept watch on Le Toux' trial with the Premier League's Bolton last week, posted on his Twitter feed that Vancouver has showed interest in the 28-year-old Frenchman.

Le Toux made $179,000 in guaranteed compensation last season.

But there's a twist in a possible move of Le Toux and the club's announcement that goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon has left for a team in Colombia. The Daily News also learned these moves could free up enough capital to announce the long-pursued purchase of midfielder Roger Torres' contract rights from Colombian side America de Cali.

Another interesting bit of news surrounds Le Toux, who sources said rejected getting a closer look from Bolton and left the trial early. This news appears to support the words of Bolton manager Owen Coyle, who told the British press: "Sebastien came in for a couple of days, and, to be fair to him, he hadn't trained for 4 or 5 weeks. He did fine, and that's where it is. We'd have probably needed a longer look."

But it's said Le Toux didn't allow any extra time and returned, much to the chagrin of Union officials perhaps looking forward to a transfer fee upward of $1 million.

It appears now any chance the Union had at persuading Bolton to reconsider may have passed, as Sky Sports reported yesterday the club is focusing its energies on Argentine forward Juan Manuel Iturbe. Coyle told Sky: "We do have one loan signing available to us. We're hopeful we'll be able to add before the window closes."

In the case of Mondragon, the Union announced that the 40-year-old netminder, acquired from German first-division club FC Cologne last January, is heading back to Deportivo Cali, the club where he got his professional start at 21. Mondragon, played in 27 matches for the Union, boasting an 1.06 goals against average, and an 8-8-11 record with seven shutouts.

Mondragon cited family reasons for his desire to return to Colombia, where he plans to wrap up a 22-year-career that spanned seven countries.

Mondragon, while not a designated player, collected $396,666.67 for his services last season. Per the team's policy, the amount of his transfer fee was undisclosed.

Women's Professional Soccer canceled the 2012 season, citing ongoing legal proceedings with MagicJack SC owner Dan Borislow. Philadelphia Independence owner WPS Board of Directors member David Halstead said in a statement: "The fact is we have very serious legal and financial challenges facing us right now that are preventing the league from moving forward as a viable, sustainable business. This is extremely disappointing and frustrating but it's nothing to be ashamed of - it's part of business and is something the WPS Board of Governors collectively feel is the right choice at this time."