RSL: Three potential trade targets for Yura Movsisyan

The Armenian seems to have fallen out of favor with Mike Petke and Real Salt Lake. A proven finisher, Movsisyan could still have trade value.

Yura Movsisyan. A player whose personal story and rise to success are nothing to scoff at. Once a prime example of Jason Kreis and Garth Lagerwey finding a diamond in the rough, Movsisyan’s return to Real Salt Lake as an experienced European veteran has been less than spectacular. The highest paid player in RSL history and new head coach Mike Petke failed to get on the same page, but RSL’s impressive turnaround with Luis Silva starting at forward gave Petke little reason to go back to Movsisyan.

Yura is still under contract for the upcoming season and has already been linked with a move back to Europe, a similar rumor that came last summer when he was first was removed from the starting XI. Despite not being a part of Petke’s plan moving forward, Movsisyan is still a valuable asset. Real Salt Lake currently only has one available international spot and no designated player positions open. Moving Yura within the league for another domestic forward who could use a change of scenery could be best for all parties involved. Here are three potential trade targets for RSL.

Gyasi Zardes – Los Angeles Galaxy

Coming off an absolutely terrible season for the Galaxy, versatile forward Gyasi Zardes struggled as the focal point of the LA attack without Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane demanding significant attention from opposing defenses. Zardes finished 2017 with just two goals and was actually moved back to right back in an attempt to get him back into form.

Zardes could benefit from the RSL attacking trio of Albert Rusnák, Jefferson Savarino, and Joao Plata wreaking havoc behind him. Part of Luis Silva’s quick transition to forward came from his ability to finish the chances the midfield trio were creating. Putting Zardes back in a place where he would have to simply bury chances could put him back to his 2014 form where he scored 16 goals on the way to an MLS Cup for the Galaxy.

However, Zardes did play on the wing for the Galaxy in 2014, with Keane starting at forward. Along with Gyasi needing to play in the middle, Zardes doesn’t have a track record of being able to interchange with the midfielders like Silva does with RSL. Real Salt Lake does have some depth issues at right back with the injury to Tony Beltran, so trading Movsisyan and his seven goals for a younger, more versatile player with a goal scoring history like Zardes could become Petke’s next project to take the league by storm.

Kei Kamara – New England Revolution

MLS fans are no stranger to Kamara. The proven goal scorer has a proven history of being able to finish. Kamara finished 2017 with 12 goals for the New England Revolution, the fourth time in his MLS career he broke double-digit tallies.

Where things could fall apart with this one is another personality conflict. Karama has developed a bit of a reputation, as he is now on his sixth MLS team and already has openly talked about his unhappiness in New England. If Kamara isn’t willing to buy into Mike Petke’s system, a situation like that of Movsisyan could happen again.

There could be a bit of bad blood between Kamara and RSL, thanks to a match in 2013 where RSL defender Chris Wingert set the tone in a rivalry match against Sporting Kansas City by waylaying Kamara. If Kamara doesn’t hold any ill will and is willing to buy into Petke’s style of play, the 33-year-old forward could have his best MLS season yet with the pieces RSL has in place.

Dom Dwyer – Orlando City SC

Dom Dwyer checks a lot of boxes. He scores in bunches, he’s hardworking, he has a bone to pick with Sporting Kansas City, and his wife, Sydney Leroux, just had her NWSL rights traded to the new Salt Lake City franchise, Utah Royals FC. The American Soccer power couple is a match made in heaven for America’s new soccer city.

Dwyer was recently traded to Orlando City in a record-setting deal, which means they may not be willing to deal his services. However, as previously noted, Orlando City head coach Jason Kreis gave Yura his chance and could be open to a reunion as he looks to build the Orlando franchise his own way.

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The proven goalscorer who recently made his USMNT debut is an ideal option on paper, with many additional benefits for the organization as a whole, but Dwyer would be at the top of almost any MLS team’s list, so getting him under contract is a whole different story.