Every single offseason, our writers cover the rumors and official announcements of outgoing and incoming transfers for FC Dallas and North Texas SC.
Outgoing
Bryan Reynolds
BREAKING: AS Roma are now the favorite to sign Bryan Reynolds from FC Dallas, sources tell MLSsoccer.
Not yet a done deal. Fee would be in region of $8.5 million up front, incentives for $11m total. As I've said, reports that a deal was done w/ Juventus weeks ago were premature
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 21, 2021
Last week, we noted in this column that the Reynolds deal seemed to be basically wrapped up, with the young right-back destined to sign for Juventus after spending the remaining months of the 20/21 season on loan with Benevento. My personal expectation was that we would see the official announcement of the deal early this week, but that announcement never came and now, reports are that AS Roma has re-entered the competition for Reynolds’ services and emerged as the new favorites to sign Reynolds.

At this point, this transfer saga has stretched out for much longer than I think most people expected, keep in mind that the initial reports of Juventus’ interest came out before FC Dallas had even finished their season, and it seems that Reynolds’ ultimate destination is still very much up in the air. It does seem that it is down to Juventus and Roma at this point in time, with Club Brugge seemingly out of the picture at this point, likely having been priced out by the two Italian giants.
Wherever he ends up, the deadline for a deal to be made is fast approaching, as the winter transfer window in Europe wraps up at the end of the month. We should have a final resolution here sometime next week (fingers crossed!).
Incoming
Freddy Vargas
? FC Dallas has signed 21-year-old Venezuelan winger Freddy Vargas on loan from Deportivo Lara.
FC Dallas has the option to exercise a permanent transfer on Vargas’ contract following the duration of the loan in December 2021.
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) January 15, 2021
In last week’s column, we noted that Vargas’ signing seemed imminent, as a large number of solid sources that cover the Venezuelan league were reporting the deal as being completed. Just hours after the transfer roundup was posted, the loan deal for Vargas was officially announced by FC Dallas. As has been the case with a number of recent signings from South America, Vargas is on a loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.
It seems that Dallas has learned to not go all-in on promising young players from South America, likely partly influenced by the unfortunate failure with Pablo Aranguiz, in which the club almost certainly lost money from buying him outright and then selling him back to the Chilean league at a loss.
With FCD essentially completely replacing their wingers this offseason, Vargas will certainly have his chance to make an impact and push Dallas into making his loan signing a permanent deal at the end of the season.
SuperDraft Picks
Welcome to the squad, @nicky_0898!
With the 15th overall pick, we select @SMUSoccerM's Nicky Hernandez! pic.twitter.com/msdfp1IICs
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) January 21, 2021
Welcome to the squad, @ColinShutler!
With the 48th overall pick, we select @UVAMenSoccer's Colin Shutler! pic.twitter.com/7oy9ZgRh0f
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) January 21, 2021
Welcome to the squad, Thibaut!
With the 75th overall pick, we select @GoCamelsMSOC's Thibaut Jacquel! pic.twitter.com/IHFD665mnW
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) January 21, 2021
Welcome home, @m21salas!
With the 76th overall pick, we select @UNCmenssoccer's Mark Salas! pic.twitter.com/820r6yybdT
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) January 21, 2021
One more talent from Dallas!
Welcome home, @GTheKing_10!
With the 79th overall pick, we select @UNCmenssoccer's Giovanni Montesdeoca! pic.twitter.com/J2V4c7sMqP
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) January 21, 2021
Dallas had five MLS SuperDraft picks this season, one pick in each of the first two rounds and three in the third and final round. Dallas used their first pick to claim the MLS rights to a player already signed to North Texas SC in Nicky Hernandez. Hernandez was very impressive in his time spent with North Texas last season and Dallas grabbing his MLS rights shows that they see him as a potential first-team player in the future. The second-round pick from Virginia’s decorated program, Colin Shutler, is a goalkeeper.
With no goalkeepers currently on the NTSC roster, Shutler seems likely to be the starter for the reserve team in 2021. The first third-round pick is a French-born forward, Thibaut Jacquel, who scored an impressive 18 goals in the 2019 college season. The final two picks were used on two local players who played at North Carolina who would be eligible for a homegrown contract in full-back Mark Salas and attacking midfielder/forward Giovanni Montesdeoca, both of whom, along with Hernandez, spent time playing with the local NPSL side Denton Diablos in 2019.
For more on FCD’s draft picks and what to expect from them in 2021 and beyond, check out the FC Dallas Nation recap of the draft HERE.
Will Bryan Reynolds end up at Roma or Juventus? How are you feeling about Freddy Vargas and FCD’s SuperDraft picks?
Featured Image: Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports