However …

This trip was planned long before Nocerino’s name surfaced in recent days as a possible acquisition. In fact, Kasper and Levien are also scheduled to visit Greece, England and France in order to scout about a half-dozen candidates. Nocerino has been added to the list.

It should also be noted that United officials are periodic visitors to Italy because of strong ties to Inter Milan, whose majority owner, Erick Thohir, is D.C.’s primary investor.

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In other words, Kasper and Levien are not in Europe for the sole purpose of finalizing a deal with Nocerino. Far from it. They have cast a wide net, both in Europe and Latin America, in an attempt to secure midfield help before the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals late next month.

An agent acting on behalf of AC Milan, which wants Nocerino off its books, has been shopping him to MLS; it’s not MLS teams chasing him. Whether the loan-transfer price is right, whether a salary can be reached, whether he’s the right fit for a club, whether he wants to move … these are all factors that go into it.

Now, is United interested in him? Sure. Who wouldn’t be? Aside from a few unremarkable months on loan with West Ham in 2014, Nocerino has spent eight years in Serie A, primarily with Palermo and AC Milan. He was on loan to Parma in early 2015, starting 19 league matches and scoring against AC Milan, Palermo and Hellas Verona. He was on the Italian squad that lost to Spain in the Euro 2012 final. (He came off the bench in two of the six matches and converted a penalty against England in the quarterfinals.)

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Without a doubt, Nocerino possesses the skills and experience to be an effective central midfielder in MLS.

Could something come of United’s visit? It’s possible. But suggestions that United is jetting off to Milan to get Nocerino’s signature on a contract and bring him back to Washington this week are not accurate.

Meantime, the prospects of United acquiring Argentine midfielder Leonardo Gil on loan from Estudiantes have grown dim, a source said.

On the business side, United is in the late stages of finalizing its TV announcers for the new local rights holder, Sinclair (NewsChannel 8 and ABC7). Dave Johnson has handled play by play since the 1996 inaugural season and Santino Quaranta has provided color commentary for the past two years. As part of the agreement with Sinclair, which replaced Comcast SportsNet, United is solely responsible for choosing the broadcast talent.