With his loan set to expire at the end of June, Vancouver FC is negotiating to keep Alejandro Díaz in the CPL at a critical time for the club
The clock is ticking for Vancouver FC and the CPL's all-time leading goal scorer, Alejandro Díaz.
The Mexican international, who has tallied 31 goals across parts of five seasons in Canada, has five days left on his one-year loan from Norwegian club Sogndal Fotball. He joined Vancouver last year following 10-months with Sogndal in Norway's 1. Division. And Vancouver is hoping the former CPL Golden Boot winner will stick around a little longer as they look to make the playoffs for the first time in club history.
Multiple sources confirmed to The Wanderers Notebook that Vancouver is actively negotiating to keep the 28-year old attacker but with only a few days to finalize a deal, Díaz's future in the CPL is uncertain. When approached for comment, Vancouver confirmed the club and Sogndal remain in discussions.
Díaz has been an important part of Vancouver's attack and promising start to 2024, registering three goals and two assists across 11 appearances.
However, Vancouver head coach Afshin Ghotbi revealed on Sunday that he's tried other formations in recent weeks — keeping Díaz out of the starting XI — to trial life without the attacker.
"We have a situation with Díaz's contract where were not sure what's going to happen so we basically have until the end of this month to resolve it," explained Ghotbi following Vancouver's 4-0 loss to the Halifax Wanderers. "It was an important moment to experiment for our team to see how we can evolve playing without Díaz."
The experiment on Sunday did not go well as Díaz arguably remains — alongside striker Moses Dyer — Vancouver's most dangerous player. The club's form has also dipped in recent weeks, earning only one win in their last five matches. With the table tightening, only a single point separates Vancouver from sixth-place Cavalry.
Given the stakes, Vancouver is looking to keep Díaz — and find their form from earlier in the year — instead of looking for a new attacker.
But with time running out, it remains to be seen whether Díaz will continue to be part of the Eagles or head back to Europe.
Cover Photo Credit: Beau Chevalier / Vancouver FC
