Three Potential Transfer Targets for the Orlando Pride This Summer

With the recent departure of Lianne Sanderson for an additional international slot (a move that The Mane Land covered here), the Orlando Pride now has two international slots to work with in terms of bringing in some additional talent for Alex Morgan and company to play alongside. With the NWSL transfer window moved up from July 4 to June 15 (Portland Thorns signed Amandine Henry on the 16th, which, hmm… ) Pride Coach Tom Sermanni has a few international players he can look at. Let’s go over some of those potential additions here:

Caitlin Foord

Say hello to the rumor that just won’t go away. Yes, Orlando has a pair of Matildas already, yes she would make a great addition to the right side, and yes, she was left off the Sky Blue FC roster to start the 2016 season with no real explanation given by either player or club. As we inch closer to the Olympic break, it’s going to be harder and harder to find international players who won’t be called up to the games. If Foord joined, she would probably free up Josée Bélanger to move further up the pitch and take her slot along the right flank.

Jill Scott

So, all things being equal, the current Man City mid would basically be a swap of one Lioness for another. She’s included on the list for her proven, tenured service to her national team, as well as being available during the Olympic break because, well, England didn’t qualify for the Rio Olympics. Scott plays as a sort of two-way midfielder who is good at both winning possession and setting up the attack. Her nickname is also "Crouchy," after Stoke City’s Peter Crouch, so, if Orlando City is gonna do anything about their partnership with the Premier League side, imagine the branding opportunities that could go along with bringing in both her and Crouch.

Marta

Look, I know the Pride already has Alex Morgan. But imagine trying to capture some of that 2011 Western New York Flash magic. (Yeah, I know, Western New York and magical aren’t traditionally thought of as synonymous.) Marta has been playing in Sweden since 2012 and, by all accounts, likes it there. However, I’m sure it’s been suggested in some form for her to come to Orlando and play in an environment she may be comfortable in, for a team that could benefit from her experience, with some familiar faces and people you already have at least some kind of rapport with (Ashlyn Harris was also on that WNY Flash team.) Marta’s resume speaks for itself and an attack that featured her, Morgan, and Spencer would be one of the more daunting ones in NWSL.

These are three potential targets that, granted, have varying degrees of probability. But again, these are all just potential targets and until the secondary transfer window closes on July 14, we won’t know for sure. What we do know is the Pride has its next game at home against the Boston Breakers on July 10 at 5 p.m. ET. Stay Tuned to The Mane Land for all your Orlando Pride news.