Lion Links: 1/17/17

The only thing worse than Mondays is having a nice day of rest only to realize that Tuesday is coming. Make the pain of Tuesday, and a return to the daily grind, hurt a little less with these Lion Links.

Orlando City Finally Gets a Crack at the SuperDraft

After watching the first two rounds, Orlando City will finally have its turn on the clock as the third and fourth rounds of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft take place today. Unlike the first two rounds, these will take place over the phone in the respective offices of each club. Orlando currently holds picks 64 and 74 with the option to trade.

Minnesota Offered Big Money for Molino

Former Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath is now in charge of Minnesota United, and FourFourTwo’s Paul Tenorio has reported that the old gaffer is eager to reunite with Kevin Molino, whom he coached for City during its USL and MLS days. Just how badly does Inchy want Molino? To the tune of a record offer:

Multiple league sources said Minnesota has offered a package of allocation money in the neighborhood of $500,000, which far surpasses the MLS record of $300,000 sent by Montreal to Chicago for Didier Drogba.

Orlando has turned down the overtures, per Tenorio, but with Molino wanting a new contract and the Lions in a tight spot financially, there are some things to be worked out before The Original can get an improved deal following an 11-goal, eight-assist season. Our Gavin Ewbank writes that Orlando City is right to hold on to its Trinidadian star.

Will Johnson Ready to Work with Kreis Again

Orlando City’s most recent signing, Will Johnson, is itching to get to work with his new club, sharing how he was drawn to the team and his excitement to work with Head Coach Jason Kreis. In fact, it was the his prior experience with Kreis that compelled him to make the move.

“I was very comfortable in Toronto but [Kreis'] relationship with me and how he treated me in the past came back and paid dividends for me to want to help him with this project,” Johnson said.

“Coach Kreis is a guy I know, a guy I trust, and I [sic] guy I work well with. He pushes people in a positive way to get the best out of them. He is a guy I have a great deal of respect for and, for him to bring me here and believe in me, that means a lot to me.”

Johnson also spoke on the new stadium and the prospect of challenging himself and the team to qualify for the playoffs in 2017. As a veteran, Johnson will be expected to lead the team on and off the field if they hope to make the playoffs.

Alex Morgan Not Ruling Out a Strike

In cold, dreary France, Alex Morgan sat down with The Guardian to discuss her grievances with FIFA and the continued fight for equal rights and equal pay. Earlier this week, the USWNT CBA ended, locking them in and preventing the U.S. Women’s National Team from having any leverage.

“But the fight is about receiving equitable treatment – not just pay. Our CBA ended last month so right now we’re locked with the status quo. Neither U.S. Soccer nor us have submitted anything that says they’ll lock us out or that we will strike. We’re hoping to reach agreement – but there eventually needs to be pressure from one side to meet in the middle.”

Morgan believes that if FIFA begins to respect the women’s game, that others will follow, but without that respect, there will continue to be a fight from the women.

Speaking of Morgan, she is officially back in the United States, training with the USWNT. She joins Pride teammates Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris, Kristen Edmonds in Los Angeles, CA.

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