Pavel Sulc on his way? Real Salt Lake not giving up on signing

Real Salt Lake are targeting the signing of Pavel Sulc, a talented Czech player with ambitions of making a name for himself in Major League Soccer (MLS). At just 23, Sulc has already shown his worth in the 2023-24 season, scoring 18 times and contributing six assists in around 2,300 minutes for Viktoria Plzen. And Real Salt Lake are determined to have him, even after several rejected offers.

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The soap opera began when Czech channel Infotbal revealed that Real Salt Lake were firmly interested in Sulc, who stood out last season not only for his domestic performances but also for his participation in the UEFA Europa Conference League. The versatility of the player, who can play either as an attacking midfielder, winger or center forward, makes him an attractive target for any club looking to strengthen their attacking sector.

The 2024-25 season got off to a promising start for Sulc, with two goals in just two games, further reinforcing his value on the market. What's more, he already has four appearances for the Czech Republic senior national team, including a notable performance at Euro 2024, where he faced Portugal and played 79 minutes against Cristiano Ronaldo and co. This international experience certainly increases the player's appeal to Real Salt Lake, who are looking not only for talent, but also for players with experience in high-level competitions.

But Viktoria Plzen don't seem willing to let their star go so easily. The Czech club's resistance to accepting Real Salt Lake's offers shows how much Sulc is valued in his current team. Even so, the American club isn't giving up. The search for a big-name Designated Player (DP) is a priority for Real Salt Lake, especially now that the team is third in the Western Conference and fifth in the race for the Supporters' Shield, due to the current Leagues Cup break.

Real Salt Lake have already made significant moves to strengthen their squad, signing winger Benji Michel and Lachlan Brook, as well as defender Javain Brown. These reinforcements show how serious the club is about winning trophies this season. And with the intention of keeping emerging stars like Andres Gomez and Diego Luna, the addition of Pavel Sulc could be the finishing touch to a team that already has high ambitions.

Sulc's performances last season were impressive: 49 games, 22 goals and eight assists. Most of his impact came as an attacking midfielder, a position where he scored 15 goals and provided all his assists. But his ability to also play as a center forward and left winger gives Real Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni valuable tactical flexibility. Sulc is the kind of player who can change the course of a game, whether it's creating chances for his teammates or finishing with surgical precision.

Real Salt Lake's persistence with Sulc is understandable. In a market where talent is fiercely contested, having a player like him can be the difference between success and mediocrity. And Sulc, with his ability to dribble, pass and finish, could be the player who takes Real Salt Lake to the next level.

The question remains: how far are Real Salt Lake willing to go to secure the signing of Pavel Sulc? And how will Viktoria Plzen react to the continued pressure? Only time will tell whether Sulc will pack his bags for the United States or remain the jewel of Czech soccer.