Edu signing close; Union preps for MLS draft

The Union have yet to announce the reported multiyear deal that would keep Maurice Edu in Philadelphia, but the club's technical director on Monday said the involved parties are "close to being over the line" in regard to finalizing the contract.

"I think that Mo is a player that we think very, very highly of," Chris Albright said. "He's a player that gives us versatility and a player that's played at the highest level."

Edu, who will turn 29 this season, came to the Union last January on a one-year loan from Stoke City of the English Premier League, a deal that offered the Union the option to purchase. The World Cup veteran proved a highly valuable asset both in the midfield and as a defender last season. He started 31 games and logged the third-most minutes (2,789) on the team, scoring three goals and assisting on two others.

Presuming the deal is consummated, the Union plan to utilize Edu at center back rather than his natural position in the midfield. At an end-of-the-season meeting in late October, head coach Jim Curtin, a former MLS defender, told Edu he thinks he is good enough to compete at center back in the next World Cup cycle.

Center back and left back remain a focus for the Union in Thursday's MLS SuperDraft, held for the second straight year at the Convention Center. Curtin and Albright are among the scores of coaches scouting and conducting player interviews at the six-day player combine that wraps up Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The Union do not own a first-round pick - the club traded the 10th overall selection last month for forward C.J. Sapong - though Curtin did not rule out the team trading up into the first round if the price is right. The Union have two second-round picks, the 31st and 41st overall selections. Those could be packaged to move up if a particular player drops more than expected.

"I'll be blunt: There are two guys right now that we are debating moving up for in the draft," Curtin said. "They're the guys that are at positions of need. If that price gets too high to move up, we won't do it. It's as simple as that."

The Union's roster is still a work in progress, and Albright asked that it not be judged until March 7, when the Union kick off their season against the Colorado Rapids at PPL Park. The 26-year-old Sapong, a 2011 first-round draft pick and former rookie of the year with Sporting Kansas City, has been the biggest addition thus far.

"As far as the overall transfer market, we're still very active in looking for players," Albright said. "We're in some conversations right now internationally, and that will continue obviously as we go on here over the next few weeks."