On a day Minnesota United added youthful defensive depth in the SuperDraft, the team's new technical director, Mark Watson, said the Loons are now seeking other options for goalkeeper after Vito Mannone rejected two offers that would make him the highest paid in MLS at his position.
Mannone made $590,000 in total compensation last season, when he was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and helped a much-improved United reach the playoffs for the first time. Watson said United's first offer surpassed that of all other goalkeepers — Atlanta United keeper Brad Guzan made $740,000 — and then made an improved one after Mannone turned down the first.
"We've worked very hard and have been very aggressive in terms of getting him back," Watson said Thursday after United selected UC-Santa Barbara defender Noah Billingsley 18th overall in the MLS SuperDraft.
"At this stage, Vito has basically said he doesn't want to be back in Minnesota with what we're offering. We're still speaking with his agent, but we've had to move on and find other targets,'' Watson said. "It's at that stage where it's decision time."
Players report for physical examinations late next week and begin training in Blaine on Jan. 20. Mannone is back training with the Reading club in England's second division that loaned him to United last season, but he isn't expected to play there again. He wasn't loaned to the Loons until mid-February last season.
Watson said the team has identified "secondary targets of very good quality in mind, and we're in that phase right now."
One of those targets is famed Joe Hart, a former longtime Manchester City and England national team goalkeeper who was among the Premier League's best as recently as 2016. Since then, the 6-foot-5 Hart has played in Italy and for Premier League club Burnley. At age 32, he is seeking to revive his career.
Watson declined comment about Hart, but the Loons have had contact with him in recent days, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.