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#Racing ofertó formalmente por Matías Laba. El jugador de Vancuover (hoy se hace estudios por una lesión que sería leve) ve con agredo venir pic.twitter.com/ik3FrLour5 — César Luis Merlo (@CLMerlo) August 14, 2017

According to Argentine soccer reporter César Luis Merlo, Racing are serious and have made a formal offer. The Whitecaps, as you’d expect, aren’t commenting.

Laba is one of three designated players for the Whitecaps. He was added from Toronto FC in a 2014 loan deal; his move was made permanent in 2015.

TFC paid just over $1.5 million US in 2013 to Argentinos Juniors. He spent one season in Toronto, but the Reds were forced to move him west after signing Jermaine Defoe, Michael Bradley and Gilberto as designated players before the 2014 MLS season.

And while the Whitecaps are staying mum on Racing’s offer, it is notable the team signed Aly Ghazal last week. By reputation, the Egyptian is a similar player to Laba: a player whose primary strength is removing the ball from the opposition, who’s perfectly happy to play in the defensive half of the park.

Caps coach Carl Robinson has said he likes having two potential starters at every position to drive internal competition, but he’d also admit it’s important to have cover at all those positions because you never know what will come along, like injuries or clubs swooping in with offers.

That a good player like Laba would be coveted by other clubs should come as no surprise.

Racing finished fourth in the 2016-17 Primera Division season. The current Argentine transfer window closes Sept. 17. Laba’s contract is up at the end of this year, albeit the Whitecaps hold an option for 2018. Remind you of anything?

Given how things went with Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo, surely the team won’t let a kerfuffle about options come in to play again.

This all assumes, of course, the Whitecaps don’t try to extend his contact. Laba is making $885,000 US this season.

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