Argentine club said to covet Caps’ Laba

Matías Laba’s name may bubble up fairly often in the coming weeks — or has the transfer boil already started?

Laba’s contract is up at the end of the Major League Soccer season.

Monday morning, a report out of Argentina suggested famed club Racing is pursuing the defensive midfielder’s services, despite concerns over a knee injury suffered this weekend against New England. (The Whitecaps say he’s scheduled to have an MRI this week.)

According to Argentine soccer reporter César Luis Merlo, Racing is serious and has made a formal offer. The Whitecaps, as you’d expect, aren’t commenting.

Laba is one of three designated players for the Whitecaps. He was added from Toronto FC in a 2014 loan deal; his move was made permanent in 2015.

TFC paid just over US$1.5 million in 2013 to Argentinos Juniors. He spent one season in Toronto, but the Reds were forced to move him west after signing Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto as designated players before the 2014 MLS season.

And while the Whitecaps are staying mum on Racing’s offer, it is notable the team signed Aly Ghazal last week. By reputation, the Egyptian is a similar player to Laba: a player whose primary strength is removing the ball from the opposition, who’s perfectly happy to play in the defensive half of the park.

Caps coach Carl Robinson has said he likes having two potential starters at every position to drive internal competition, but he’d also admit it’s important to have cover at all those positions because you never know what will come along, like injuries or clubs swooping in with offers.

That a good player like Laba would be coveted by other clubs should come as no surprise.

Racing finished fourth in the 2016-17 Primera Division season. The current Argentine transfer window closes Sept. 17. Laba’s contract is up at the end of this year, although the Whitecaps hold an option for 2018.