D.C. United already drafted a guy named Lance Rozeboom this year. And now they may soon have a player nicknamed The Bomber.
Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner is reporting that United is negotiating with 28-year old Albanian striker Hamdi Salihi, who has spent the last two and half years with Rapid Vienna of Austria. Conversely, Black And Red United is reporting that Rapid manager Peter Schoettel sounds like a complete douche.
Salihi scored 46 goals in his first two years in Austria, which is a ridiculous strike rate, but just three this season. Is he slowing down, or has he fallen out of failure? Well he's only started four out of 18 matches for Rapid, coming off the bench eight times. Salihi has also scored nine goals for the Albanian national team.
What is his connection to United? Rapid Vienna also happens to be the past club of United midfielder Branko Boskovic. They played together there in 2010. Surely Salihi wouldn't be on United's radar if not for a Boskovic recommendation.
Salihi had been targeted by both Rangers and Celtic of the Scottish Premier League last month during the transfer window, but neither club was able to reach a deal to bring him in. Salihi's contract with Rapid is reportedly ending this summer, so acquiring him would not be easy for United. Still, D.C. needs to fill the hole left by the departure of Charlie Davies at the top of the lineup. Salihi would be expensive, maybe even requiring a designated player contract, but he could be the guy to put this team over the top this year.