Rumors began to circle at the start of this week about EPL veteran Kevin Davies moving to Toronto FC. Now it almost seems like a done deal.
Today the Bolton News revealed that Davies has been allowed to leave his contract early, as a good will gesture, to get his move to MLS signed and sealed as quickly as possible.
In recent months, the 36-year-old striker has seen himself out of contention for the Trotters Championship playoff push, after not making the 18-man squad for the past few games. It is rumored that Davies’ contract with Toronto would be for the rest of the season.
Davies has scored 144 goals in 714 career appearances for the likes of Chesterfield, Blackburn and Southampton and he has one England cap to his name. The target man has spent over a decade helping Wanderers survive and then flourish in the EPL.
However with the drop down to the Championship after relegation last year, new manager Dougie Freedman has decided Davies is surplus to requirements and had not offered the bruising Englishman a new deal at the Reebok Stadium.
Davies would certainly fit in with Ryan Nelsen’s plans at TFC. As the ex-Blackburn, Tottenham and QPR defender has used his extensive links in the English game to recruit plenty of players with EPL experience to Toronto already.
If I was a Toronto FC fan, I’d be extremely happy with the addition of Davies. Partnering Robert Earnshaw up front, Davies would win all kinds of knockdowns for Earnshaw to latch onto and the duo could become one of the most feared strike partnerships in MLS.
The deal obviously isn’t official yet. But it does seem to be gathering steam. With Davies out of contract and a few more years left in his legs, a move to TFC would be a tremendous fit as Nelsen continues to turn the fortunes of the Canadian club around.
Davies has been granted a testimonial with Bolton, so his move across the pond may not be as imminent as some hope. But the fact that they’re allowing him to leave before his contract runs out in June, suggests that willing suitors are already lined up. Toronto FC, its over to you.
By pairing a battering ram forward and a small, nippy striker who knows how to finish…it takes me back to the glory days of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips at Sunderland! TFC fans, you could be in for a treat with Davies and Earnshaw.