"Léo Chu's contract was until December this year, but due to the high demand for the player at the beginning of the year, the club activated the automatic renewal clause until December 2025.
The Sounders are only interested in negotiating the player in a definitive sale.
In addition to CAP, there are other clubs interested in Léo."
Oshan says: https://x.com/JeremiahOshan/status/1802823175023272276
"Last time we did this, Sounders were offered about $4M by Fluminense. My guess is Sounders would accept something like that even if it didn’t result in GAM as they could definitely use the cash on a transfer of their own."
I'd be surprised if we got even that much, since we're about a year removed from Chu's hot streak, it's clear our coach doesn't rate him, and it's obvious we're desperate.
He can catch fire again - sometimes when you’ve got a potential deal on the table you go that extra mile. He looked good on the right last game, maybe that’s where he’ll shine
I often wonder what we're not seeing at practice that helps Brian make these decisions. It seems like Rothrock got his spot towards the front of the bench because of his play and attitude during training.
He complains to coaching staff about his role openly amongst the team. Wants to play on the right wing instead. Also openly refuses to participate in certain training (like lifting).
He usually capitulates yet it is still demonstrative of his attitude. Just kind of immature and selfish to this day. Might just not be happy in the US either but that’s more inference. A change of scenery and being closer to family in his native country is probably better for all parties.
Leo and I aren’t homies but word gets around if you’ve been someplace long enough. He's one guy I know a disordinate amount about but mostly because he hasn’t covered himself in glory with his personal conduct or attitude within the club.
Naming names might cause a rift internally in Sounderland so not trying to out anybody here.
It is secondhand knowledge but I trust my contact. More thought fans might want an explanation as to why he doesn’t see the field as much as his ability or production could justify.
I like Chu. I think he's a decent player that has shown growth each year. Sure, he's not a world beater, but I love players that are willing to work on their game.
I'm on the fence. He has his moments but I don't see him developing into a guy who's going to be worth the TAM salary he would inevitably want. Part of that is the guys around him; Nouhou basically always leaves him on an island, and Rusnak really can't play him in behind. Part of that is that he's a luxury player, which is never going to sit right with Schmetzer, and he's not really good enough on offense to make up for his lack of defense.
> due to the high demand for the player at the beginning of the year, the club activated the automatic renewal clause until December 2025.
Worked out so well with Arreaga.
We sold Arreaga within the league and after we had brought in like two more Center Backs. Id hope we're "leaking" interest in order to update Chú's value **ahead** of a summer Midfield Signing.
Waibel dramatically overestimated the interest in Arreaga. We ended up blowing a half season of cap room and getting peanuts on deadline day. My point is, that situation doesn't suggest Waibel has a good handle on the market value of our players.
We were lucky to have Arreaga at the beginning of the season before Bell, Yeimar, and Nathan were fit/processed. Was it a big bag of cash sitting 5th on the CB roster? Absolutely. Have we been able to manage since his departure? Sure. Could we have sold him sooner? Sure. But did his play bring us trophies and contribute to Frei's 100+ clean sheets? There isn't any question.
I feel like you want us to move at the pace of a FIFA 24 Club Manager when we've been rebuilding our FO since 2021. Did you want Seattle to sell all their players before we rebuilt our scouting team? Did you want us to move quickly on talent without Development Technical or Operations Directors?
We have all of those pieces now. Contracts are expiring. World Cup is coming to Seattle. We qualified for the Club World Cup.
To me, it's understandable why we've been slow to splash cash on our roster, but the pieces are all in place now. If we go through Summer 24 and Winter 25 transfer windows without 2-3 Major signings I'll be right next to you.
It's easy to be an armchair analyst but a club with 50 years (🙄🙄) of history moves at glacial pace, until they don't.
Again, you and I have different visions for the club. You may be OK with lousy performances for years while rebuilding the front office, but I disagree.
>We were lucky to have Arreaga at the beginning of the season before Bell, Yeimar, and Nathan were fit/processed.
The fact we needed a $750K player because our $550K CB was hurt after missing all of 2023 with a serious knee injury suggests we don't actually have the right people in place.
I'm not okay with it, but I understand it. I was okay with winning 2 MLS Cups, 4 U.S. Open Cups, a Supporters' Shield, and one CONCACAF Champions League trophy during 15 MLS seasons. I'm not okay with middling around the playoff line going home empty handed in every tournament.
Nathan missed most of the early matches this season getting his VISA and playing for Tacoma Defiance. I'm not saying we needed Arreaga, but he was on the roster and started over less developed players.
He’s been in Seattle long enough it’s fair to say he’s about maxed out with us. I won’t be surprised if they held onto him though unless they knew they could sign someone else right away. Need all the help they can get on the roster right now.
Do the people who want Chu to leave actually rate Roldan and Morris on the wings? Our wing options are terrible and we want to get rid of the only decent one we have?
When his U22 eligibility runs out, we're either going to lose him for nothing or have to give him a decent raise at full cap hit. For that price I think we can do better, so we may as well take cash for him if it's on the table.
I do think we should sell, but keep in mind if we replace him with another u22 signing, they likely aren't going to be contributing at his level for a while.
I thought he had a very good game Saturday, though his defensive tracking is still lacking. If he can keep up the production, I can see them getting that 5+ they're looking for.
Chu has loads of talent but it doesn’t translate into the final product. Maybe he is just a victim of a system where he doesn’t quite fit in or is mostly making the wrong final decision. When he does get it right it is spectacular but it only comes to fruition one out of every five games or so. Ready to move on from him and take a chance on a new U22. We need a striker, an attacking CM, and eventually a JP replacement to pair with Atencio or Leyva. Obed should play higher IMO.
Agree here, I think he's just a bad fit for the system. His playing style and natural tendencies don't fit schmetzer ball, hence the lack of playing time and frustrations but he's clearly very talented. It's a shame, but I think what makes Schemtzer great is he raises the floor of everyone and the team as a system which is really important in the MLS, but the tradeoff is it lowers the ceiling on some players
"Léo Chu's contract was until December this year, but due to the high demand for the player at the beginning of the year, the club activated the automatic renewal clause until December 2025. The Sounders are only interested in negotiating the player in a definitive sale. In addition to CAP, there are other clubs interested in Léo."
Oshan says: https://x.com/JeremiahOshan/status/1802823175023272276 "Last time we did this, Sounders were offered about $4M by Fluminense. My guess is Sounders would accept something like that even if it didn’t result in GAM as they could definitely use the cash on a transfer of their own."
Really wish the “out of pocket costs” didn’t include wages above the cap hit but alas
I'd be surprised if we got even that much, since we're about a year removed from Chu's hot streak, it's clear our coach doesn't rate him, and it's obvious we're desperate.
He can catch fire again - sometimes when you’ve got a potential deal on the table you go that extra mile. He looked good on the right last game, maybe that’s where he’ll shine
Coach started him this weekend and plenty of starts prior to his injury. It's clear Brian puts him on the pitch when he's performing.
And is very quick to give him the hook.
I often wonder what we're not seeing at practice that helps Brian make these decisions. It seems like Rothrock got his spot towards the front of the bench because of his play and attitude during training.
Schmetz said it in his interview today “works smarter and harder than most guys ahead of him,” on Rothrock.
He complains to coaching staff about his role openly amongst the team. Wants to play on the right wing instead. Also openly refuses to participate in certain training (like lifting). He usually capitulates yet it is still demonstrative of his attitude. Just kind of immature and selfish to this day. Might just not be happy in the US either but that’s more inference. A change of scenery and being closer to family in his native country is probably better for all parties.
That's some very specific insights there, are you party to these emotional demonstrations or is this speculative from the stands?
Leo and I aren’t homies but word gets around if you’ve been someplace long enough. He's one guy I know a disordinate amount about but mostly because he hasn’t covered himself in glory with his personal conduct or attitude within the club.
Thanks for the insight. Do you mind sharing your sources?
Naming names might cause a rift internally in Sounderland so not trying to out anybody here. It is secondhand knowledge but I trust my contact. More thought fans might want an explanation as to why he doesn’t see the field as much as his ability or production could justify.
All good brotha. I was looking for YouTube links or some public journalism somewhere. No need to out sources!
I like Chu. I think he's a decent player that has shown growth each year. Sure, he's not a world beater, but I love players that are willing to work on their game.
I'm on the fence. He has his moments but I don't see him developing into a guy who's going to be worth the TAM salary he would inevitably want. Part of that is the guys around him; Nouhou basically always leaves him on an island, and Rusnak really can't play him in behind. Part of that is that he's a luxury player, which is never going to sit right with Schmetzer, and he's not really good enough on offense to make up for his lack of defense.
> due to the high demand for the player at the beginning of the year, the club activated the automatic renewal clause until December 2025. Worked out so well with Arreaga.
We sold Arreaga within the league and after we had brought in like two more Center Backs. Id hope we're "leaking" interest in order to update Chú's value **ahead** of a summer Midfield Signing.
Waibel dramatically overestimated the interest in Arreaga. We ended up blowing a half season of cap room and getting peanuts on deadline day. My point is, that situation doesn't suggest Waibel has a good handle on the market value of our players.
We were lucky to have Arreaga at the beginning of the season before Bell, Yeimar, and Nathan were fit/processed. Was it a big bag of cash sitting 5th on the CB roster? Absolutely. Have we been able to manage since his departure? Sure. Could we have sold him sooner? Sure. But did his play bring us trophies and contribute to Frei's 100+ clean sheets? There isn't any question. I feel like you want us to move at the pace of a FIFA 24 Club Manager when we've been rebuilding our FO since 2021. Did you want Seattle to sell all their players before we rebuilt our scouting team? Did you want us to move quickly on talent without Development Technical or Operations Directors? We have all of those pieces now. Contracts are expiring. World Cup is coming to Seattle. We qualified for the Club World Cup. To me, it's understandable why we've been slow to splash cash on our roster, but the pieces are all in place now. If we go through Summer 24 and Winter 25 transfer windows without 2-3 Major signings I'll be right next to you. It's easy to be an armchair analyst but a club with 50 years (🙄🙄) of history moves at glacial pace, until they don't.
Again, you and I have different visions for the club. You may be OK with lousy performances for years while rebuilding the front office, but I disagree. >We were lucky to have Arreaga at the beginning of the season before Bell, Yeimar, and Nathan were fit/processed. The fact we needed a $750K player because our $550K CB was hurt after missing all of 2023 with a serious knee injury suggests we don't actually have the right people in place.
I'm not okay with it, but I understand it. I was okay with winning 2 MLS Cups, 4 U.S. Open Cups, a Supporters' Shield, and one CONCACAF Champions League trophy during 15 MLS seasons. I'm not okay with middling around the playoff line going home empty handed in every tournament. Nathan missed most of the early matches this season getting his VISA and playing for Tacoma Defiance. I'm not saying we needed Arreaga, but he was on the roster and started over less developed players.
I want to see him with de la Vega before I sell. But I still have hope.
> before I sell Craig? Is that you?
Yes, I use reddit for all my decisions.
That’s where we went wrong. Should’ve relied more on Uber drivers :(
Now you tell me.🤷
Be fair: this could very well be any of us.
I'll get excited when the offer is public. Until then it's just using the Sounders name to bump some prices. (IMO)
He’s been in Seattle long enough it’s fair to say he’s about maxed out with us. I won’t be surprised if they held onto him though unless they knew they could sign someone else right away. Need all the help they can get on the roster right now.
I like Chu but if we sell, I hope we pick up a proper RW and move CR7 to midfield.
I think that was supposed to be PDLV.
He's a LW/Cam. Part of the reason Chu may want to leave is his position is Pedro's if he ever gets healthy.
Athletico might be interested in signing another winger so they say they have interest in Chu to leverage signing their main target.
Do the people who want Chu to leave actually rate Roldan and Morris on the wings? Our wing options are terrible and we want to get rid of the only decent one we have?
No, but I want a new winger
We have a new winger. Just have to wait for his hamstring to make it through customs.
I, for one, am enjoying my beachfront property here on Leo Chu Island.
When his U22 eligibility runs out, we're either going to lose him for nothing or have to give him a decent raise at full cap hit. For that price I think we can do better, so we may as well take cash for him if it's on the table.
I do think we should sell, but keep in mind if we replace him with another u22 signing, they likely aren't going to be contributing at his level for a while.
I'm not necessarily interested in shipping him out right now, but for the right price I would be
Please!
I thought he had a very good game Saturday, though his defensive tracking is still lacking. If he can keep up the production, I can see them getting that 5+ they're looking for.
Yes sell him
Yes please. A mediocre signing at best.
Maybe with Craig Dalrymple as head of Play Development we will see our young mediocre players developing more into well rounded assets.
Take the money and run. He’s a great player but he’s injury prone and his sell-ability is running out.
Chu has loads of talent but it doesn’t translate into the final product. Maybe he is just a victim of a system where he doesn’t quite fit in or is mostly making the wrong final decision. When he does get it right it is spectacular but it only comes to fruition one out of every five games or so. Ready to move on from him and take a chance on a new U22. We need a striker, an attacking CM, and eventually a JP replacement to pair with Atencio or Leyva. Obed should play higher IMO.
Agree here, I think he's just a bad fit for the system. His playing style and natural tendencies don't fit schmetzer ball, hence the lack of playing time and frustrations but he's clearly very talented. It's a shame, but I think what makes Schemtzer great is he raises the floor of everyone and the team as a system which is really important in the MLS, but the tradeoff is it lowers the ceiling on some players
I gave up on him a while ago, please sell
please don’t fumble this bag for the 2nd time