A report from Norwegian press outlet Telemarksavisa says that D.C. United are interested in Elbasan “Elba” Rashani. The 26-year-old Kosovo international plays for Odd BK in the Norwegian Eliteserien and has registered 2 goals and 4 assists in 15 games (all starts) as a right winger for the Oddrane, who currently sit in third in the league.
However, United might not be the only party considering a move. The Daily Mail reported last week that Fulham were interested in the winger, with a price tag of just over $500,000.
Last year, Rashani spent most of his time on the left, playing in 27 games (starting 26), scoring 7 goals and assisting on 6 last year. Overall, Rashani has played 138 games for Odd, posting 24 goals and 22 assists in two-plus years after previously spending time with Danish club Brondby and Rosenborg (also in Norway).
Rashani has also appeared with Kosovo’s national team (after earning caps with Norway at the U17 through U21 levels), scoring two goals in four appearances, most recently in a June UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria.
What would making a move mean for D.C. United? Well, he appears to have pace and some creative ability on both sides of the field and could spell Paul Arriola and Lucas Rodriguez when needed, with making the case of starting and perhaps staying in the lineup, which was more than Zoltan Stieber was able to do in a similar spot.
As for recent target Mateo Garcia? Reports in Spain had once linked the 22-year-old Garcia to Birmingham City, going so far as to claim he was traveling for a medical, though that news is being downplayed in England. There have been no other mentions of Garcia moving to the District of late.
With a week to go in this transfer window, and Dave Kasper clearing roster and salary space with the departures of Stieber Chris McCann, he’s got a small window to get deals done.
Now let’s all watch a sizzle reel: