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We are mere weeks away from Toronto FC players reporting for pre-season training camp. Raul Jimenez Jersey . The question of who will be present and who will be elsewhere adds to the intrigue ahead of the new Major League Soccer season. With the January transfer window open and business to be done, the transfer rumour mill continues to churn, growing in name, scope and prominence in players involved. Through all the rumour and conjecture, all I can tell you is what I believe to be true and how the situation is playing out. If cards are played accordingly and all goes to plan, Toronto FC will replace Jermain Defoe with two European based players of quality. Nothing is set in stone. Much remains up in the air. The design is clear and the process remains fluid. Its common knowledge that all of Toronto FCs significant transfer dealings hinge on Defoe. Much work is being done behind the scenes to settle the issue and prepare for another significant play in the transfer market. As TSNs Luke Wileman reported Thursday, Toronto FC Head Coach Greg Vanney expects Defoe to return to Toronto for pre-season training January 17. His plane ticket is more likely to go unused or transferred into the name of another passenger. Defoe is currently training with his former club Tottenham Hotspur. This is absolutely by design. It keeps Defoe in the spotlight and on the radar of a number of Premier League teams interested in his services. Defoe is concerned with his personal and professional dealings in England, so not returning to Toronto remains the preferable option. Toronto FC remains diligent in working out a deal best for all parties. The right number and right deal has not been made for Defoe as of yet. However, Toronto FC has four or five legit Premier League suitors for Defoes services. The club is confident they can get a deal done on Toronto FCs terms before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. Interestingly enough, one of the interested clubs looking to add Defoe is Sunderland. The Black Cats have only scored 18 goals in 20 league games. Steven Fletcher leads all Sunderland strikers with a disappointing four-goal return. Defoe is a fit, and quite frankly, a need. Enter Sunderlands Jozy Altidore into the equation. Multiple outlets reported and Vanney acknowledged this week Toronto FC is among three MLS teams interested in the U.S. Mens National team and Sunderland striker. Altidore, 25, has failed to make his mark in the Premier League after a move from the Eredivisie in the summer of 2013. One goal in 42 games hardly does his quality justice. Still at a young age, powerful in physique and following in the footsteps of many other of his USMNT teammates, a move back to North American football makes absolute sense to resurrect his club career. Toronto FC has made a move for Altidore, and the American striker is said to be keen on joining Toronto. Michael Bradley remains a staunch advocate of the club and city, and his friendship with Altidore is an attraction, making Toronto his preferable MLS landing spot. Toronto FC are favourites for Altidore, and now its about getting a deal done. There is a match to be made between Toronto FC (Defoe) and Sunderland (Altidore). How and if the deal comes to be remains to be seen. Sunderland are believed to be keen on a swap, Defoe-for-Altidore and all that comes along with the players. A move as such isnt preferable for Toronto FC. Defoe is a more valuable commodity from a Premier League production perspective. Defoe is a proven goal scorer in Englands top flight - Altidore a disappointment at the top level. The pot would likely need to be sweetened for Toronto to agree to such a deal. A swap deal cannot entirely be ruled out, but other business incentives would have to be taken into consideration. For example, Toronto FC paid upwards of a $10 million transfer fee to bring Defoe to Toronto, but profited from other mutual business ventures with Tottenham, namely the summer friendly at BMO Field. The game was a money maker for Toronto FC. A like summer friendly with Sunderland wouldnt have the same cache, but is another chip to be considered with other business dealings. Defoe to Sunderland could very well end up happening. With multiple clubs calling for Defoe, Toronto FCs options are not limited. We sometimes believe Premier League clubs are flush with more cash than they actually have. Its a delicate process, so for the meantime, Toronto FC remain resolute, determined to get a deal preferable to what they are trying to achieve. There is confidence they will get what they want. It is not the goal of Toronto FC to merely sell Defoe and wash their hands clean. They are looking to build. They are looking to make an even bigger splash. This is the Tim Leiweke way. The outgoing CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is spear-heading the Defoe dealings and leading the recruitment/replacement process. A step-back, or even the status quo is not the aim. Further investment is the way. Bringing in another top level player and making another splash is the goal. Toronto FC is said to be very active in pursuing other significant names. Altidore is just one of them. The club has been linked to multiple big names over recent months. There seems to be some truth in a previous pursuit of Wesley Sneijder. Galatasaray are unwilling to part with the player, so that door closed quickly. This is the type of player Toronto FC covets to take the team to the next level. Reports out of Italy Friday go down a similar path. Toronto FC have been linked to Juventus striker Sebastian Giovinco. Such a move follows what I reported last week that Toronto FC wants to add more than just one piece (Altidore). Giovinco, 27, is out of favour at Juventus, having made only two Serie A starts on the season. Multiple European clubs are said to be seeking his services. None seem ready or willing to offer the kind of money Toronto FC is said to have on the table. Funny enough, Giovinco is also being linked to Tottenham, bringing the entire Toronto FC-Defoe-Tottenham relationship full circle. Giovinco would command a salary in the $7 million range. Can Leiweke convince the Board of Directors to invest this kind of money into the soccer property, on top of Bradley and potentially Altidores lucrative contracts? That remains to be seen. If Giovinco is intrigued by Toronto FCs audacious approach, which have reportedly caught the players attention, Leiweke will have the ultimate sell job to do to the MLSE Board of Directors to reach deeper into the coffers to bring in genuine talent. MLSE has already showed willingness to go above and beyond, with the expansion of BMO Field into a +30,000 seat facility opening further means and methods for club growth and profitability. The good news it seems Giovinco hasnt denied Toronto FCs advances. According to the report, Giovinco is intrigued by the North American adventure and seems keen to follow in the footsteps of countrymen Marco Di Vaio and Alessandro Nesta on an MLS journey. The fact the player is only 27, in his prime of his career, seeking out opportunity makes such a transfer even more spectacular, breaking away from the MLS trend of recruitment of big name players who are past their prime. Giovincos arrival would send shock waves across MLS - style and substance for a club dead-set on getting it right. A partnership with Altidore would be ideal, with Giovinco suited to play as a second striker or recess striker role. Make no mistake; Altidore and Giovinco are both realistic gets. How the negotiations, dealings, and roster shuffling plays out remain to be seen. Nothing is set in stone. But the process is moving fast. Its January 9 and MLS still doesnt have a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. That leaves Toronto FC, and all MLS teams attempting to build rosters through rules that may no longer be applicable. There is no clear consensus on where negotiations will end up and what the new landscape will look like. One possible amendment to the current structure is to add an additional Designated Player spot for teams willing to use. If a move to add a fourth designated player is tabled during CBA negotiations, MLSEs deep pockets would make supporting such an initiative a no-brainer. A handful of MLS teams with significant financial backing would likely follow suit. A fourth designated player spot would allow Toronto FC to move forward and acquire both Altidore and Giovinco immediately (pending the sale of Defoe). If no additional DP is agreed upon, Toronto FC would have to wait until July. Giovinco is out of contract in July and would be free to join at that time. Gilberto would be a casualty to the Italian strikers arrival. The Brazilian striker struggled in his first MLS season but comes with a more reasonable DP contract that has value in the marketplace. There are many ifs, ands or buts in all this. But wheres theres smoke, theres fire. Toronto FC is more ambitious than ever. Moving on from Defoe was never going to be an easy process. The process becomes much easier to tolerate with Altidore and potentially Giovinco as end reward, making for a dream end scenario for Toronto FC. Gareth Wheeler can be reached at: @WheelerTSN gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca Marco Fabian Mexico Jersey . "All he says is, its crazy," DeMar DeRozan told reporters following Torontos win over the Pistons Wednesday. The Raptors longest-serving members, Johnson and DeRozan have had two coaches and 56 different teammates in five seasons with the club, all without appearing in a single playoff game. Giovani dos Santos Jersey . Funny, they looked like longtime friends during Pittsburghs 5-1 demolition of Dallas on Tuesday night. Quick to the puck and even quicker to the net, the Penguins top line overwhelmed the suddenly struggling Stars as Pittsburgh bounced back from a dismal weekend sweep at the hands of Philadelphia by jumping on Dallas early. http://www.nationalsoccermexico.com/customized/ . This is not some token job for a prominent, popular former player. All of those areas need a lot of work, so Molitor is going to be busy. "Hes certainly got a history and knowledge and a high baseball IQ," general manager Terry Ryan said.GUELPH, Ont. - Sergey Tolchinsky scored the winner in the shootout to lift the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to its eighth straight win with a 6-5 victory over the Guelph Storm in Ontario Hockey League action on Sunday.Jared McCann led Sault Ste. Marie (35-9-2) with two goals and an assist, Michael Bunting scored twice on the power play, and Jean Dupuy had the tying goal at 11:01 of the third period.Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and two assists for the Storm (26-17-4). Jason Dickinson, Zac Leslie, Tyler Boston and Givani Smith also scored. Greyhounds goaltender Brandon Halverson stopped 27 shots through regulation and overtime, and 2-of-3 skaters in the shootout.Guelphs Bradley Van Schubert made 38 saves through 65 minutes and allowed two goals in the shootout.Sault Ste. Marie scored three power-play goals on nine attempts while the Storm converted on 2-of-6 chances with the man advantage.---BATTALION 6 WOLVES 0NORTH BAY, Ont. — Alex Henriksson scored two goals and assisted on one more and Jake Smith stopped all 15 shots he faced as the Battalion blanked Sudbury.Hampus Olsson had a goal and two helpers for North Bay (22-12-9), while Kyle Wood, Zach Poirier and Nick Paul rounded out the attack.Troy Timpano made 32 saves for the Wolves (7-35-2), who have lost 14 straight.---STEELHEADS 2 RANGERS 1MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Everett Clark scored the tiebreaking goal 13:14 into the third period and the Steelheads held on to edge Kitchener.Bryson Cianfrone also found the back of the net for Mississauga (19-24-3), tying the game 1-1 at 4:02 of the third.Gustaf Franzen had the lone goal for the Rangers (20-15-9), on the power play midway through the second period.---ICEDOGS 7 COLTS 4ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — New York Islanders draft pick Josh Ho-Sang scored three goals and assisted on two more to lead the IceDogs past Barrie.Brendan Perlini had a goal and two helpers for Niagara (20-21-4), which has picked up points in each of its last 10 games. Billy Jenkins, Cody Payne and Aleksandar Mikulovich supplied the rest of the offence.Garett Hooey and Andrew Mangiapane had a goal and an assist apiece for the Colts (27-16-2). Joseph BBlandisi and James Cordell also scored. Carlos Salcedo Mexico Jersey. .---OTTERS 7 ATTACK 3OWEN SOUND, Ont. — Connor McDavid racked up five points with a goal and four assists and Erie converted on 5 of 8 power plays to topple the Attack for its eighth straight win.Alex DeBrincat scored twice and added a helper and Dylan Strome finished with a goal and three assists for the Otters (33-9-3). Nicholas Baptiste scored one goal and helped on two more, and Kurtis MacDermid and Nick Betz also scored.Kyle Platzer led Owen Sound (20-14-9) with a goal and two assists while Erik Bradford and Zach Nastasiuk supplied the rest of the offence. Tyler MacArthur and Justin Brack were each given game misconducts in the third period, MacArthurs for instigating at 16:54 and Bracks for fighting Eries Mason Marchment before the puck drop at 18:32. Marchment was also handed a game misconduct.---PETES 3 BULLS 2BELLEVILLE, Ont. — Nathan Pancel scored the tie-breaking goal on a power play at 14:26 of the third period to lift Peterborough over the Bulls.Greg Betzold and Hunter Garlent — while shorthanded — also scored for the Petes (16-22-5).Brett Gustavsen had both goals for Belleville (19-21-6). Maurizio Colella was given a game misconduct for slashing at 13:36 of the third.---GENERALS 6 KNIGHTS 3OSHAWA, Ont. — Kenny Huether scored a hat trick to push the Generals past London for their fifth straight win.Tobias Lindberg had a goal and an assist for Oshawa (36-7-2), Mitchell Vande Sompel scored on the power play and Bradley Latour added a short-handed, empty-net goal at 10:46 of the third period.Max Domi and Christian Dvorak led London (29-14-3) with a goal and an assist apiece. Josh Sterk also scored.---STING 6 SPITFIRES 3WINDSOR, Ont. — Josh Defarias scored twice and Taylor Dupuis made 41 saves as Sarnia doubled up the Spitfires.Stephen Pierog had a goal and an assist for the Sting (23-17-6), while Anthony Salinitri, Alexandre Renaud and Daniel Nikandrov rounded out the attack.Trevor Murphy and Logan Brown each had two points with a goal and a helper for Windsor (19-24-2), which outshot Sarnia 44-28. 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