TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Reports
Orlando City SC are nearing a deal for Heracles winger Silvester van der Water, according to reports from Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad and The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio.
The 24-year-old’s Eredivisie club has confirmed that he won’t be available for selection in their Sunday league match against RKC Waalwijk as a transfer gets worked out. Meanwhile, Tenorio has reported that van der Water would join the Lions on a Targeted Allocation Money deal because the transfer fee would surpass a certain financial threshold.
After developing at Dutch second-division side Almere City, van der Water secured a move to Heracles in 2018. In the past three seasons, he’s notched 13 goals and eight assists in 59 matches across all competitions.
Should van der Water come to Orlando, he’d bolster an offense that featured Nani and Chris Mueller as starting wingers in 2020, when the Florida outfit snapped a five-year streak of not making the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. They also have youngsters Benji Michel and Alexander Alvarado as wide options, so there’d be a bevy of choices at head coach Oscar Pareja’s disposal.
Earlier this offseason, Orlando bolstered their attack by acquiring former Brazil national team forward Alexandre Pato. Should van der Water come, he’d represent further investment in an offense that scored 40 goals in 2020, second-highest in the Eastern Conference and fifth-highest in MLS.
