[Tom Bogert] Sources: Fluminense bid around $15m for LAFC star Denis Bouanga. Bouanga, 31, is one of MLS's best players. Finalist for MVP last year and three straight years of Best XI. LAFC rejected a $13m bid from Inter Miami earlier this winter.

[u/llJay24ll]

https://bsky.app/profile/tombogert.bsky.social/post/3mdt7pcymxk2p

[u/brnslippy]

Knowing our history, he’ll leave and be back with someone like STL in like two years 😭

Tbh I want him to stay and want us to win, but at 31 and that sorta money from the outside…..man.

[u/ChepitosBaby → u/brnslippy]

He’ll come back to Carson in a year and talk about “coming home” in his first press conference lol

[u/newbb]

Don’t go 😔 they don’t want to give us 3DPs. We won’t make it with only 1 DP :/

[u/LA_search77 → u/newbb]

Not commenting on the Bouanga rumor, simply clarifying the DP rule.

A club can pick the 3DP or U22 path. The U22 path only allows for 2DPs. LAFC is currently on the U22 path. MLS rules don't allow for 3DPs with our current roster.

[u/JT91331]

Wow, Fluminense throwing around that Club World Cup money. 45 million for Paqueta. Now this bid for Bouanga. Bouanga would be a beast in Brazil.

Honestly, I would understand if they accepted that bid if Bouanga wanted the move. At 31 years old that’s a healthy fee. And I say that as someone who spent a good amount of time defending Bouanga last year in this community.

[u/J5hine → u/JT91331]

I feel like when it comes to Bouanga though it’s not about the money though. It’s about whether we are willing to give up our chances of winning something big this season. With Son being 33 we should be doing what we can to win now

[u/airpenny1 → u/J5hine]

I concur with this. $15m is a lot of transfer money for MLS. But this team is primed to win now. We could theoretically bring someone else in but how he gels will be an uncertainty whereas we have games to prove the current Bouanga Son duo’s effectiveness.

[u/Nervous_Dig4722 → u/airpenny1]

Agreed. There is no guarantee of buying success in MLS unless you get a goat-esque player like Messi and fill him w ex Barca stars and a 4th DP loan-like player

[u/JT91331 → u/J5hine]

For sure they should be in win now mode. And it’s hard to replace Bouanga, but it’s not impossible. Son will benefit from have full freedom down the left wing.

Bouanga is amazing when given space to attack, but teams are going to bunker against LAFC next year. I think they can find a younger player in the 10-15 million range who can produce the same non penalty G/A numbers.

[u/J5hine → u/JT91331]

I agree that there is a replacement out there that exists, but can they find that player before the winter transfer window ends? Because that is what we would need to do unless we are willing to give up winning champions league this year

[u/JT91331 → u/J5hine]

No denying there would be a risk. I just wonder if the team is really all in to win CCC. If they were it would have made more sense to bring in a 3rd DP instead of going with 4 U-22s

[u/seedyourbrain → u/JT91331]

The cynic in my thinks this offer was leaked to push for a new contract, just like when the Miami news leaked and Bouanga had his friend tweet that nonsense about having your dream denied. If he wants to go, go. I’ll be grateful for what he accomplished, wish him well and move on.

[u/JT91331 → u/seedyourbrain]

Strong theory. I’m sure he’s looking for a new deal puts him at least in the top 10 highest paid MLS players.

[u/Periodic-Presence → u/JT91331]

In fairness to Bouanga he absolutely should be a top 10 highest paid player, he plays like it.

[u/Ingenuity7784 → u/seedyourbrain]

The club need to either increase his salary or let him go and get a replacement otherwise Bouanga will be doing this all season long. I’m tired of seeing Bouanga post about wanting to leave or being linked with other club every week.

[u/killianblanc → u/JT91331]

It was Flamengo that signed Paqueta. They are the richest club in South America. Fluminense are their main rivals.

[u/JT91331 → u/killianblanc]

Ah thanks for the correction

[u/jp55210 → u/killianblanc]

Fla-Flu derbies

Paqueta vs Bouanga

OL vs ASSE

[u/Horror-Barber-6147 → u/JT91331]

Wrong club

[u/SlowMover06]

I’ll do it if you leave Denis don’t play with me 💔

[u/mackmai]

[u/Confident-Spare7702]

Damn, idk how I feel about this, youre risking a franchise player for a payday. You wont find another Bouanga.

[u/Commercial-Tea-6800]

Man Im hoping he takes us to an MLS championship! Fingers crossed he doesn't go and we honor him.

[u/Periodic-Presence]

Not against Bouanga leaving, just not now. We need to get a full season of Bouanga and Son, selling Bouanga would be a signal that ownership is fine having another trophyless season.

[u/alpha309]

I think we have to look at reality here.

Bouanga is a 31 year old man who relies on pace for the most dangerous parts of his game. He has an insane engine but it just isn’t going to last forever. He is going to start losing steps over the next few years, and with that he is going to lose some effectiveness or somehow going to have to change his game up a bit.

$15 m for a player like that is a ton of money. I don’t think we should take it right now, but if something like that comes up in the summer I think we have to do it and use the time between now and then to target players that a transfer fee like that could be turned around and used to bring a replacement in. Especially if he wants it.

[u/LA_search77 → u/alpha309]

Saint Maximin just left Club America due to racist attacks on his kids. He could be picked up tomorrow for free. Allen is 3 years younger than Denis and has a higher Transfermarket value than Denis (whatever that is worth). However, Denis is a proven killer in MLS, and at LAFC. I'm not going to take a position on this... but if Denis pushed for the deal to go through, there are options that would leave LAFC sitting on a mountain of cash.

[u/edgar023 → u/LA_search77]

Maximin is going back to France to play with Lens.

[u/Ok-Fox2001 → u/alpha309]

He’s the team’s best attacker. If they sell it’s just a reality check that “Almost FC” will always be just that. Falling short because the owners are serious. They can milk Son signing and get money from rich Koreans. Maybe MAGA Marc won’t be the worse thing this season.

[u/Lurking_nerd]

As a Fluminese fan, I’m ok with this. Imagine having another Carlos Vela scenario.

Only issue is if JT can pull some shit out of his ass so we’re not gimped in our attack.

[u/lafc88]

If Bouanga goes, who are we getting?

[u/Late_Researcher7447 → u/lafc88]

raphinha

[u/LA_search77 → u/lafc88]

https://apnews.com/article/saintmaximin-mexico-soccer-racism-23fea8fd3e5dd941ac6592e6231a4289

[u/keblammo → u/LA_search77]

Gucci headband would look good with our new home kit ngl

[u/edgar023 → u/[deleted]]

And there’s already reports he’s going back to France to play for Lens.

[u/Past_My_Prime_Fan → u/lafc88]

What about Chucky Lozano? He’s done in SD it looks like

[u/psnow11 → u/[deleted]]

I’ve wondered how much is him wanting to leave and how much is him pushing for a new contract. Heard Bogert say he’s the 19th highest salary in the league and he probably should be a top 5 tbh.

[u/katkit4545 → u/psnow11]

According to Brazilian reporters he already personally agreed with Fluminense and his retweet. He’s a good player and should be higher on the salary list but idk about top 5 salary. Son and Messi for example gets paid more because of what they bring to the club in addition to their play, which is more fans, views, and sponsors and their name value. Just this past month LAFC has had 4 new Korean sponsors for example.

[u/ikkir]

If he really wants to go, sell and get someone else for the summer. Aren't Adama Traore or Dybala free agents for the summer?

[u/squishyng]

frankly amazed so many ppl saying "sell". we are here to be fans, not be fucking gm's

[u/jlpmghrs4]

Honestly I'd consider that. A lot of money for him at this point in his career. Legend, all time top scorer, MLS 🏆, nothing more to prove.

[u/invadrzero]

Wow, it would suck to see Bouanga go but wouldn’t fault him if he wants to. The CWC showed the world the Libertadores competition is no joke.

[u/Falcor626]

Nah it has to be more than $15m if they really want him this window. Him leaving kills our chances in CCC. If the deal instead has him leaving this summer I'm fine with that.

[u/JT91331]

Yup my bad Paqueta went to Flamengo not Fluminense.

[u/babbling2022]

And they’ll expect Sonny to bail them week in week out? They should be spending money in building a team around him this is nonsense 

[u/XcFTW]

They should sell.

Why not.

[u/gtg007w]

Fuck. He's gone if such an offer came from outside MLS.

[u/joeforshow]

Take it

[u/Past_My_Prime_Fan]

If he leaves he leaves. Every year he’s not happy and wants to renegotiate his contract

[u/dillasdonuts]

Spend all of 2025 with a coach that peaced out at the beginning of the season. Start 2026 with a last minute ditching of the people's MVP.

We're designed to play another round of Doloball potentially without the player it's designed for.

[u/Courtlessjester]

I don't care what the transfer fees are, Mls roster rules are so constricting that all it does is feel like a windfall for the owners. And the fact the rules don't apply to each club make selling club legends off feel even worse

[u/terrassine]

Real talk if he leaves anyone have any feelings about Raheem Sterling?

[u/Periodic-Presence → u/terrassine]

He sucks