MLS News and Notes: Feb. 19, 2008

I spent yesterday afternoon with Real Salt Lake at training. I’ll have a full report on RSL later in the week and a few exclusive interviews next week on the American Soccer Show.

Steve Marlet a striker who showed some class in the early part of this decade with Lyon and Marseilles (but did not with Fulham who paid a then record club transfer fee for him from Lyon)is on trial with Chicago. Marlet was good enough to be capped 23 times for France which is stark departure from recent French signings in MLS like Pascal Bedrosion and Laurent Merlin who weren’t good enough to even make a Ligue One squad let alone be capped for Les Blues. Marlet was a member of the France squad that won the tragedy filled FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003, the same event in which Marc Vivian Foe of Manchester City passed away playing for Cameroon. The US was in the same event and scored only a single goal, DaMarcus Beasley’s strike in a 2-1 loss to Turkey.

Speaking of Manchester City, Darren Huckerby is due in Toronto next week according to multiple media reports to discuss terms with Toronto FC. Mo Johnson continues to underestimate the skill level required to be competitive in MLS and this bound to be another disastrous signing for Toronto.

Tomasz Frankowski whose career for Poland’s National Team ended ended weeks before the 2006 FIFA World Cup is close to signing with Chicago, according to a source. Frankowski was a successful player for both Poland and club until a failed spell with Wolves in the English Championship deemed him unfit for international play.

Pius Ikedia a former World Cup player for Nigeria is also on trial with the Fire.

Rumors all over the internet have sprung up in the last 24 hours linking Luis Figo with the New England Revolution. While massive Portuguese community in and around Boston would embrace Figo, I see absolutely no indication that any sort of deal has even been contemplated let alone in the works.

I’m hearing Kyle Martino is likely out in Los Angeles. Possible destination? How about a return to Columbus? I think that would work well for the player and the club.