Leandro "Beto" Armani Awaiting Union Decision On Loan Deal

A trip to South America provided the Philadelphia Union with a few possible transfer targets during the offseason and apparently one of them is just a 'yes' away from joining the team.

According to Leandro "Beto" Armani's agent, the Argentine striker is waiting on the Union to officially table a bid that is expected to be accepted by Tiro Federal.

"Beto is very excited to play in MLS. We are waiting for the Unión to make a decision and give an offer," Nikos Petrapulos, of ALFA Management, told the Brotherly Game today.

Petrapulos' statement falls right in line with the information that was said to Dave Zeitlin, of MLSsoccer.com, by head coach John Hackworth and Ricardo Ansaldi, Director of International Player Development.

"Hackworth recently went to Argentina with Ansaldi," Dave Zeitlin wrote in a piece, about Ansaldi and Hackworth's trip to Argentina, "saying when he returned that a signing was "really likely" based on that trip. Ansaldi, who stayed behind in Buenos Aires, agreed with that assessment, adding that the team "is very close" to pulling the trigger on at least one new deal."

Armani's agent went on to say that a meeting between his client, himself and two Union representatives took place in Argentina.

"There was indeed a meeting between Beto, Ansaldi, my partner Martin Araoz and Hackworth," Petropulos said.

Any deal involving Armani will most likely take place in the form of a loan and according to Pablo Soria, web manager of the Newell's Old Boys website, and a friend of Armani, the fee has already been set by Federal.

"Tiro Federal's president has asked $50,000 for a six-month loan," Soria, said to the Brotherly Game last month. "That amount for the loan is for all interested clubs. Armani's representatives want Carlos Davola, Federal's president, to lower his demands, but the negotiation has been difficult."

The Union did not respond to a request for comment on this story.