Seattle Sounders closing on NYCFC striker Heber - report
By Chris Smith
The Seattle Sounders are closing in on a deal for NYCFC striker Heber, according to reports.
Seattle already have one of the most feared strikers in Major League Soccer within their ranks in the form of Raul Ruidiaz, who has scored 73 goals and provided 13 assists in 120 appearances across all competitions since joining the club in 2018.
However, the Peru international suffered from various muscle injuries throughout the 2022 season, resulting in him missing 13 games.
Without a clinical, reliable backup option, the Sounders suffered and failed to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in their history, despite becoming Major League Soccer's first-ever Concacaf Champions League winners.
According to MLSsoccer.com's Tom Bogert, the Sounders are close to solving that issue, with a deal for NYCFC's Heber already in advanced stages.
Sources: The Seattle Sounders are closing in on a deal to acquire forward Heber in a trade with NYCFC.
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 29, 2022
Heber, 31, has 24g/6a in 3,564 MLS minutes. He won MLS Cup 2021 with NYCFC. Excelled with HNK Rijeka in Croatia before joining NYCFC in 2019. pic.twitter.com/8TTI8MgwtI
The 31-year-old Brazilian has a solid goalscoring record since arriving in New York, hitting the net 30 times in 90 appearances across all competitions, while providing seven assists.
Heber suffered an ACL tear in 2020 that kept him out for almost the entire calendar year, but recovered to help NYCFC win MLS Cup in 2021. Across the 2022 season, a fully-fit Heber managed 11 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions.
Prior to joining NYCFC, Heber enjoyed productive spells in Croatia, Armenia, and his native Brazil.
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