Report: Erick “Cubo” Torres weighing contract offer from Atlanta United

Erick “Cubo” Torres is weighing a contract offer to join Atlanta United, according to ESPN Deportes. It’s unknown if a transfer fee would be involved with the move.

Torres, a Mexican international with seven senior caps and experience in MLS earlier in his career, mixes opinion. The forward’s record of production in MLS is solid with 36 goals in 93 career appearances, many of which came while playing for the dismal and now defunct Chivas USA.

But his career has ground to a crawl since returning to Mexico, accumulating just 35 appearances in Liga MX since 2015.

The deal seems feasible. Atlanta United has a track record of dealing with Club Tijuana involving players like Greg Garza and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. As clubs around the world struggle to deal with the financial difficulties brought upon by COVID-19, it makes sense that clubs like Xolos would be interested in shedding salary. Xolos in particular is notorious for having a questionable financial situation.

One hurdle that would need to be cleared: Torres is on MLS’s allocation list, and Atlanta United is currently in the 21st in the allocation order. The club would likely need to make a move to improve their ranking, and could offload some pieces that would free up necessary roster spots.

Do some research on Torres, and you will find that the promising reports are dated closer to the early portion of the decade. Perhaps the brass at Atlanta United believe he could resuscitate his career in Atlanta, and could even be a short-term option to play as a striker in the absence of Josef Martinez.