Toronto FC: Top 5 players who could be their next DP

Toronto FC Option 2: Ulysses Llanez

Ulysses Llanez is another unlikely option, but he fits the bill for what TFC is looking to bring in. At only 19, Llanez is a member of Wolfsberg, who have sent him on loan to Heerenveen in the Eredivisie for the season. He came up in the LA Galaxy youth system before moving to Wolfsburg after he had left the Galaxy.

Both a left-winger and right-winger, Llanez is a young player who hasn’t quite had an opportunity at a major club yet and could use more playing time. He did incredibly well in the U19 Bundesliga last season, where he scored 11 goals and added six assists in 16 matches. He could be an excellent sell-on candidate for Toronto if he were to have the same success as he had in the U19 Bundesliga. Llanez has also added three US national team appearances to his name where he has scored one goal.

As with Miller, I find this unlikely, but he fits the bill, if not even more so than Miller. Llanez has North American soccer experience, having played in the USL during the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons, and is also an American national so he wouldn’t count against an international roster slot.

Llanez connection isn’t as pronounced considering the last player that Toronto brought in from the Eredivisie was Danny Koevermans in 2011, and the last player from Heerenveen was Lesly Fellinga in 2009. If you haven’t heard of Fellinga don’t worry about it because I hadn’t either. He only played four matches in MLS, so no one should judge you for not knowing him.

What is the likelihood of Toronto acquiring Ulysses Llanez? Probably slim again, but he fits the bill for a young player in Europe who hasn’t really had an opportunity yet.