MLS Chases Elite Talent: Salah, Neymar, and Casemiro Top Summer Wishlist
Mohamed Salah's departure from Liverpool has shifted from speculation to reality, and Major League Soccer is making an aggressive push to bring the Egyptian superstar to North America. League officials have taken the unusual step of exempting him from the standard discovery process, essentially creating a direct path for San Diego FC to negotiate.
San Diego's ownership, led by Egyptian-British billionaire Mohamed Mansour, has been diplomatically reserved in public statements. At last month's SBJ Business of Soccer event, Mansour remarked only that Salah "will definitely be an asset." Behind closed doors, however, the club is navigating significant hurdles to make this transfer a reality. Al Nassr and other Saudi Pro League clubs are expected to table financial packages that San Diego cannot compete with on pure salary terms. Instead, the American club would need to structure a deal similar to Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami — offering ownership equity, a stake in Mansour's Right to Dream Egypt academy network spanning Africa and the United States, and positioning the move as a legacy-building opportunity beyond simple wages.
The strategy is inventive, but whether it proves persuasive remains uncertain. At 32 years old, Salah commands peak market value, and Saudi Arabia's top division has already demonstrated its ability to attract world-class talent in their prime years. Additionally, San Diego must first resolve their situation with Hirving Lozano — the Mexican international is owed $7.63 million in guaranteed compensation, has declined to relocate, and currently occupies a roster spot that would almost certainly be needed for any Salah transaction. While none of these obstacles are insurmountable, they're far from straightforward.
Cincinnati's Neymar Negotiations Gain Momentum
Discussions between FC Cincinnati and representatives for Neymar continue to advance, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The 34-year-old Brazilian has completed the full 90 minutes in his last five appearances for Santos — a calculated fitness demonstration aimed at national team manager Carlo Ancelotti, who will determine his inclusion in Brazil's World Cup roster. This season, Neymar has registered four goals and three assists across 854 minutes. He's not the 2017 version of himself, but he remains effective.
Timing presents the primary challenge. Cincinnati currently has three designated players under contract — Evander, Kévin Denkey, and Miles Robinson — who cannot be easily moved on short notice. Denkey has attracted European attention, with Real Betis among the clubs expressing interest, but Cincinnati is seeking more than $20 million to enter serious discussions. Given they paid a club-record $16.1 million for him less than 12 months ago, that asking price isn't unreasonable. If a Neymar deal materializes before January, when his Santos contract naturally expires, roster adjustments become mandatory.
Both Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy have also entered the Neymar sweepstakes, demonstrating how seriously MLS franchises are approaching this summer's transfer window.
Casemiro, Lewandowski, and Unlikely Scenarios
The Galaxy hold discovery rights on Casemiro, whose Manchester United deal expires in June, theoretically placing them at the front of the queue. Inter Miami continues to pursue him regardless. Neither club currently has an available designated player slot, but both possess the salary cap flexibility — the Galaxy demonstrated this with Zlatan Ibrahimović, Miami with Jordi Alba and Rodrigo De Paul — to engineer a workable structure. The 33-year-old Brazilian, despite a challenging period at United, would immediately rank among the league's top five central midfielders.
Lewandowski to Chicago Fire was legitimate at one point. Sources now indicate the transfer is improbable, partially because the Fire's priorities have evolved, and partially because Lewandowski's Barcelona future — though uncertain — still includes possibilities in Spain and Serie A. The Polish striker turns 38 in August, has scored four La Liga goals in 2026, and told The Athletic last month he isn't "even 50 percent sure" about his next destination. Meanwhile, Chicago has Hugo Cuypers, who has netted six goals in five matches this season. The Fire aren't in desperate need.
The transfer almost certainly off the table: Bernardo Silva to NYCFC. The Portuguese midfielder is departing Manchester City this summer, and NYCFC would welcome him given the City Football Group connection, but sources confirm Silva isn't considering MLS. At 31 and in his prime, he has numerous elite European clubs interested. NYCFC's new stadium opens in 2027 — that's when their genuine star recruitment campaign likely begins.
- Salah to San Diego FC — Active pursuit facing major challenges (Saudi financial competition, Lozano contract complications, roster construction)
- Neymar to FC Cincinnati — Negotiations advancing, designated player slot required before summer completion
- Casemiro to LA Galaxy — Galaxy hold advantage through discovery rights; Miami remains engaged
- Lewandowski to Chicago Fire — No longer likely; Fire have shifted focus
- Bernardo Silva to NYCFC — Player not currently interested in MLS move
MLS commissioner Don Garber publicly stated that Salah "would be a great player in MLS" immediately after Liverpool confirmed his exit. That represents the league making its ambitions official. Whether any of these high-profile transfers actually conclude remains to be seen — but the league's aspirations are unmistakably genuine.