{"id":3022,"date":"2018-02-07T01:38:53","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T01:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betting.ca\/news\/?p=3022"},"modified":"2018-02-07T01:38:53","modified_gmt":"2018-02-07T01:38:53","slug":"toronto-fc-heads-to-mexico-for-pre-season-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betting.ca\/news\/toronto-fc-heads-to-mexico-for-pre-season-training-camp","title":{"rendered":"Toronto FC heads to Mexico for pre-season training camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Toronto FC are nearing the end of its preparations for the 2018 season but are still looking for a few pieces of the puzzle to come together. Toronto created buzz last week after it signed Gregory van der Wiel<\/a>. Van der Wiel, a defender, has in the last played for a number of European teams having played forty-six games in the Netherlands and was a starter in the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final.<\/p>\n

Acquiring a player of van der Wiel\u2019s stature was one that required TFC brass to pay out allocation monies from a special fund that clubs have to sign talent, both domestically and internationally, whose salary cap would be limited to $150,000 but with the special fund, can be increased up to $1 million<\/strong>. TFC utilized that same fund last year in its deal to acquire Spain\u2019s, Victor Vazquez.<\/p>\n

Each season clubs are given $1.2 million that must be used and not using it means the following year will see the added fund not being provided<\/strong>. All MLS teams are permitted to utilise 2019 funds this year and can, in addition, spend up to $2.8 million using their own funds.<\/p>\n

Tim Bezbatchenko, the General Manager for Toronto FC<\/a>, confirmed TFC did not use all the money, both discretionary and mandatory that it was allocated in the acquisition of van der Wiel and can access those funds to sign other top talent. Bezbatchenko has been to South America and Europe a number of times in search of players the team can sign as the club hopes to sign another attacking and midfield player for the upcoming season.<\/p>\n

Bezbatchenko admitted that,<\/p>\n

\u201cWe still need maybe one or two more signings to really complete what we need to do\u201d<\/p>\n

Stating that he has the intention to continue discussing the re-signing of Jason Hernandez<\/a> but with the cap on salaries, it might be difficult to get the deal done.<\/p>\n

Hernandez, age 34, has not been under contract since last season and is now positions to be a free agent. Last March Hernandez signed with TFC as a free agen<\/strong>t and was a valuable asset as a backup when needed and played in eight games during the regular season.<\/p>\n

TFC HQ<\/strong><\/p>\n