The Houston Dynamo are closing in on the capture of Scottish winger Andrew Driver.
Club president Chris Canetti confirmed to MLSsoccer.com reports out of Scotland that the club is in talks to bring Driver stateside early Tuesday morning. The deal has yet to be signed, but if all goes well, the club will add a player they have had an eye on for over a year.
“I can confirm the reports out of the UK that we are in talks with Heart of Midlothian and Andrew Driver on a possible move to the Dynamo,” Canetti said. “The process is still evolving, so that’s all I can say at this time.”
As Driver is still under contract, the proposed multi-year deal would entail a loan until June when the move would then become permanent. As constituted, Driver will not count as a Designated Player, but the club will have to open up an international slot in order to add him to the roster.
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Driver, 25, has been on the Dynamo’s radar for some time. The Heart of Midlothian winger was once considered a top young player at the club, at one time drawing interest from the likes of FC Twente and Chelsea. A knee injury in 2010 and a public battle with manager Paulo Sergio over his role, however, stalled his ascent and decreased playing time since.
According to several in the Dynamo organization, the left-footed Driver’s pace, skill and willingness to work on both sides of the ball caught the club’s collective eye.
With the club looking for help on the wing and talks with Franck Songo’o, who left the club Saturday, hitting a stalemate, the Dynamo reached out to Driver to gauge his interest in joining the club last week. Driver was receptive and looks poised to join Houston, pending final negotiations.
His projected role at the start would be to provide cover on the wings for Brad Davis and Boniek Garcia, two players the club is prepared to do without for a significant amount of time this season due to international duty. As has been the case with others in Houston, Driver could work his way into a bigger role as time wears on.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
