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David Accam and CJ Sapong may have both worn the blue and gold of the Philadelphia Union for the last time.
According to separate reports in Ghana Soccernet (Here and Here), FC Cincinnati is interested in acquiring both Philadelphia Union attackers, who each saw a dramatic dip in production in 2018.
Accam scored only one goal in 23 appearances for the Union in 2018 after being acquired from Chicago Fire in a $1.2 million deal that included $300,000 in general allocation money and $900,000 in targeted allocation money.
The Union signed him to a deal through 2020, then Sporting Director Earnie Stewart said at the time. They made him the third highest paid player on the squad at $1,250,00.04 in total compensation for the season, which was cut short in October when he had a season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia.
Sapong led the Union in scoring with 16 goals and 5 assists in 2017, but struggled in 2018 and was moved to the wing to get in-form striker Cory Burke into the starting lineup. He had four goals and three assists on the season and signed a contract extension in March for 2019 with a 2020 option. He was the sixth-highest paid player on the team at $525,000 in total compensation.
Both deals were reached under Stewart so dealing both would give new Sporting Director Ernst Tanner an opportunity to retool the offense. One attacking piece he’s already reportedly eyeing is 24-year-old Brazilian forward Sergio Santos, who currently plays top flight football in Chile.
FC Cincinnati could end up acquiring one of the players (or another player on the roster left unprotected) via the MLS Expansion Draft on December 11. They’ll get to select five players left unprotected from MLS teams that didn’t lose players in last year’s draft (Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City, San Jose Earthquakes, Columbus Crew and Toronto FC) but cannot select more than one player from the same team.
Teams that have a player selected will receive $50,000 in general allocation money.