Dynamo strike deal to bring back Ching

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A deal has been reached in principle to send the Dynamo's all-time leading scorer, Brian Ching, back to the franchise from the expansion Montreal Impact, according to multiple Major League Soccer figures close to the situation.

"We're working nonstop to finalize everything here," Dynamo president Chris Canetti told the Chronicle. "Our hopes are that we can reach a resolution very, very quickly."

Almost three months after he was acquired by the Impact in the MLS expansion draft on Nov. 23, Ching is headed back to the franchise he led to three MLS Cup finals and two titles after the Dynamo arrived in Houston in 2006.

According to multiple people with knowledge of the talks between Ching and the Dynamo, the forward has agreed to have his salary reduced. The Impact are going to get a 2013 draft pick from the Dynamo.

Now the Dynamo's all-time leading scorer has a chance to fulfill his goal of taking the field May 12 for the opening game at BBVA Compass Stadium.

A member of the U.S. national team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Ching has been the face of the Dynamo organization since he scored four goals in the franchise's inaugural game in 2006 at Robertson Stadium. He scored five goals last year as captain of the 2011 Eastern Conference champions, who lost 1-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup final.

The Dynamo's first and last goals at Robertson Stadium were scored by Ching, who has tallied 51 regular-season goals since the team relocated from San Jose, Calif. He also has been one of the team's most clutch playoff performers, scoring seven goals in five postseasons with the club.

To help give the Dynamo payroll flexibility needed to fill two remaining roster spots, Ching reworked his guaranteed $450,000 salary to take a pay cut as a condition of the deal. He has been guaranteed a front-office job with the club when he retires, perhaps as early as 2013.

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