Jamal Gay on verge of MLS deal

Gay’s agent Dion Sosa said the deal is expected to be for a year with the option of an extension.

According to Sosa the US club is eager to have the former El Dorado Secondary and National Under-23 forward under their fold as soon as next week when pre-season preparation kicks off.

Negotiations have been ongoing between the clubs and the MLS. Sosa explained that players signing contracts to play in the MLS are required to negotiate deals with the parent MLS which also dictates the salary cap the player will fit under. It is understood the deal could earn Gay approximately US$60, 000 a year.

Gay who returned last year from a one-year stint with German Second Division team Oberhousen FC was first spotted during the first round of the Olympic Qualifiers in St Lucia where he scored three goals to help the “Young Warriors” to advance to the final round of the qualifiers in March.

Gay said the final round of the qualifiers will comprise teams such as CONCACAF giants Mexico and Honduras but he was confident that TT will progress.

“It will no doubt be a difficult group but I think we can qualify for the Olympics because we have played against the Mexican team before at the Pan American Games and we drew with them, so we should be able to beat them this time around” Gay said.

Gay’s impressive goal-scoring formed continued at Caledonia AIA, the club he signed with on his return from Germany. He currently leads the scoring for AIA with 14 goals from 17 matches.

Gay said while he prefers to play in Europe, he is hoping a deal can be reached so that he can play his football overseas.

“The MLS is a good league and we are seeing more and more international players going to play there. I think I will do well there but my interest is to use the experience as a stepping stone to play in Europe. My agent has been on the look-out for clubs for me and I think it seems to be looking positive” Gay added.