Major League Soccer Sets Sights on Elite Stars: Salah, Neymar, and Casemiro Top Summer Transfer Wishlist

Major League Soccer Sets Sights on Elite Stars: Salah, Neymar, and Casemiro Top Summer Transfer 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 stateside. League officials have taken the unprecedented step of exempting Salah from the standard discovery process, creating a direct path for San Diego FC to pursue the forward.

San Diego's ownership, led by Egyptian-British billionaire Mohamed Mansour, has maintained a cautious public stance while working behind the scenes on what would be a landmark signing. Speaking at last month's Sports Business Journal Business of Soccer event, Mansour noted that Salah "will definitely be an asset," though he stopped short of confirming active negotiations. Sources indicate the club faces significant hurdles, particularly from Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, which is prepared to present a financial package San Diego cannot match on pure salary alone. The American club's strategy mirrors Inter Miami's approach with Lionel Messi: offering equity ownership, a stake in Mansour's Right to Dream Egypt academy network spanning Africa and North America, and positioning the move as a legacy-building opportunity rather than purely financial.

The innovative approach faces practical challenges. Salah, currently 32 and commanding peak market value, has already seen the Saudi Pro League successfully attract world-class players in their prime years. Additionally, San Diego must resolve its situation with Mexican international Hirving Lozano, who carries a guaranteed compensation package of $7.63 million, has declined transfer opportunities, and occupies a crucial roster position that would likely be needed for any Salah agreement. While these obstacles aren't insurmountable, they present considerable complexity.

Cincinnati's Neymar Negotiations Advance

FC Cincinnati remains in active discussions with representatives for Neymar, with sources close to the negotiations indicating meaningful progress. The 34-year-old Brazilian has completed the full 90 minutes in his past five appearances for Santos, a strategic demonstration of fitness aimed at national team manager Carlo Ancelotti as he evaluates Brazil's World Cup roster. This season, Neymar has contributed four goals and three assists across 854 minutes — a functional performance level, if not reminiscent of his 2017 peak.

Timing presents the primary complication. Cincinnati's three designated player spots are currently filled by Evander, Kévin Denkey, and Miles Robinson, none of whom can be easily moved. Denkey has attracted European attention, including from Spanish side Real Betis, but Cincinnati has set a valuation exceeding $20 million to entertain offers. Given the striker joined for a club-record $16.1 million less than 12 months ago, this asking price reflects reasonable business practice. Should a Neymar transfer materialize before January, when his Santos contract naturally expires, roster adjustments would be mandatory.

Both Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy have also entered the Neymar conversation, underlining the seriousness with which MLS franchises are approaching this transfer window.

Casemiro, Lewandowski, and Deals in Various States

The Galaxy currently hold discovery rights to Casemiro, whose Manchester United contract expires in June, theoretically positioning them as frontrunners. Inter Miami continues pursuing the Brazilian midfielder despite this competitive disadvantage. Neither club presently has an available designated player slot, though both possess the roster flexibility — the Galaxy demonstrated this with Zlatan Ibrahimović, Miami accomplished it with Jordi Alba and Rodrigo De Paul — to engineer a compliant deal structure. The 33-year-old Casemiro, despite a challenging period at United, would immediately rank among the league's top five midfielders.

Chicago Fire's pursuit of Robert Lewandowski has cooled considerably. Sources indicate the deal, which had genuine traction previously, is now improbable. The Fire's priorities have evolved, and Lewandowski's Barcelona situation, while uncertain, still includes possibilities in Spain and Italy's Serie A. The Polish striker turns 38 in August, has netted four La Liga goals in 2026, and acknowledged to The Athletic last month he isn't "even 50 percent sure" about his next destination. Chicago's urgency has diminished with Hugo Cuypers producing six goals in five matches this season.

One transfer almost certainly off the table: Bernardo Silva to NYCFC. While the Portuguese midfielder is departing Manchester City this summer and NYCFC would welcome him given the City Football Group connection, sources confirm Silva isn't considering MLS options. At 31 and in his prime, he faces no shortage of elite European suitors. NYCFC's new stadium debuts in 2027 — likely when the club's marquee recruitment efforts will intensify.

  • Salah to San Diego FC — Active pursuit facing substantial obstacles (Saudi competition, Lozano contract complications, roster configuration)
  • Neymar to FC Cincinnati — Negotiations advancing, roster space required before summer transfer possible
  • Casemiro to LA Galaxy — Galaxy positioned advantageously through discovery rights; Miami maintaining interest
  • Lewandowski to Chicago Fire — Now unlikely; Fire focusing elsewhere
  • Bernardo Silva to NYCFC — Player not considering MLS currently

MLS Commissioner Don Garber publicly stated that Salah "would be a great player in MLS" immediately following Liverpool's confirmation of the departure, signaling the league's clear intentions. Whether these ambitious transfers ultimately materialize remains uncertain — but MLS's aspirations are undeniably genuine.