Transfer Rumors: Orlando City Linked to Panamanian Forward Gabriel Torres

We’re nearing the summer window, and you know what that means — transfer rumors! Reports out of Panama have surfaced linking Orlando City SC to former Colorado Rapids striker Gabriel Torres, who has been plying his trade in Venezuela’s top flight for Zamora, earning 12 goals so far this season.

Torres is no stranger to the landscape of MLS, having spent three seasons in Colorado, scoring 10 goals in 55 appearances for the Rapids from 2013-2015 as the club’s first Designated Player.

The reports also point towards Brazil and Germany as possible destinations, with D.C. United also interested in returning Gabby to MLS. Considering our history with D.C. United involving international players, at the least this should be fun to watch.

Torres is certainly a quality forward. Having been the top scorer of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and scoring twice in 2014 World Cup qualifying, he has a nose for the net and a love of the spotlight.

In terms of fitting with this current group of Lions, Torres does not make a lot of sense to me. Just six weeks after signing Julio Baptista at the position, and mere months after drafting Hadji Barry to develop, forward does not look to be a position of need.

Unless, of course, those reports about Lazio (and other Euro clubs) sniffing around Kid Fantastic are accurate.

Stay tuned, Mane Landers. This one could get interesting.