Seattle Pursues Pedro de la Vega: Designated Player Move to Fill Lodeiro's Void

Seattle Pursues Pedro de la Vega: Designated Player Move to Fill Lodeiro's Void

Pedro De La Vega of Lanus competes for the ball with Lucas Beltran of River Plate during a match between Lanus and River Plate as part of Liga Profesional 2023 at Estadio Ciudad de Lanus (La Fortaleza) on March 4, 2023 in Lanus, Argentina.(Image-Getty)

 Seattle Sounders FC is actively pursuing Lanús attacker Pedro de la Vega as a potential Designated Player acquisition in the upcoming winter, as various reports suggest.

The 22-year-old Argentine youth international is rumored to be the designated player filling the void left by the departure of the legendary No. 10 Nicolás Lodeiro, whose contract is expiring, leading to his departure from Seattle this winter.

Known primarily as a winger, de la Vega boasts a track record of 17 goals and 13 assists in 126 appearances across various competitions for Lanús. His international experience includes participating in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup for Argentina and representing his country at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Should the deal materialize, de la Vega would become a valuable addition to Seattle's attacking roster, joining forces with key players such as Jordan Morris, Raúl Ruidíaz, Léo Chú, and Cristian Roldan. The club has also secured the 2024 contract option for midfielder Albert Rusnák, often deployed as a No. 10.

The potential addition of de la Vega aims to bolster Seattle's offensive capabilities after they ranked in the bottom third of the Western Conference with 41 goals. Despite earning a No. 2 seed in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, Seattle faced a setback, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat against LAFC in the Conference Semifinals.