Good Friday morning Caps fans. Hope you all are having a good week and that the last few days of August are treating you well.

The Caps will end August with a trip to Sporting KC, who are not only at the bottom of the league table but are currently on pace to set a number of records for their poor defensive output. They also just sold one of their two designated players, Dejan Jovelic, a week after cutting loose another DP, Manu Garcia. So because this is MLS, I look forward to seeing how they somehow get a point on Saturday.

The Caps are set up for a busy end to the transfer window. This week, they have been linked with two right-backs, one who plays in Italy and one in France. It sounds like the Caps will pull the trigger on the Serie A option: Rui Modesto, an Angolan international who currently plays for Udinese. Modesto has played as a winger in the past, but feels more like a fit in Jesper Sorensen’s system as the fullback who bombs forward and serves as a creative outlet.

The reason for Vancouver’s interest in another right back could be for a few reasons. The most obvious (and most concerning) is that a bid has come in for Edier Ocampo. I’ve been saying that I wouldn’t be surprised if Ocampo is the next player to move overseas, though I was hoping the Caps could make it through this season before entertaining bids. It is possible this is also a long term move to bed in a new signing, with the knowledge that Ocampo might well move before the sprint season.

But the Caps might also be simply trying to build depth at the position. Ranko Veselinovic may well be out long term, meaning that Mathias Laborda will be called upon at centerback and thus there is a gaping hole in the right back depth chart. Nikola Djordjevic has struggled in his game time this season and I’m not sure that he’s anything more than a third string option, though I do think he’s looked better at right back than winger. Regardless, you could see the need for a RB even if Ocampo remains.

While Daniel Gazdag ultimately fizzled out, the Caps appear set to make an attacking signing as well. It sounds like Guinean forward Yadaly Diaby, who currently plays for Grenoble in Ligue 2, will round out Vancouver’s attacking options. I’ve seen some kvetching about Cheikh Sabaly lately and, by extension, some grumbling about going back to France for some more shopping.

But between Sabaly, Andres Cubas, and Emmanuel Sabbi, this is clearly a market Vancouver believes is underrated. And, looking at Diaby’s profile, you can see why. He is either a goal scoring winger or a striker but his physicals seem solid, which is usually a good indicator of MLS success (and an area where Sabaly has struggled) and he has already bagged two goals in three matches for Grenoble. A player like that from a bigger league would either not want to be a depth piece, would command a bigger fee, or both. For what he ultimately will be for the Caps (a backup across multiple positions), this seems like a savvy signing. Diaby won’t necessarily block Rayan Elloumi’s development but he provides a real option for if Brian White is hurt or unavailable. That is pretty much exactly what the Caps need at the moment.

Shameless Self Promotion

The podcast takes stock of where a bump in form has left the Whitecaps.

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In more good news, the Caps have officially signed Tate Johnson to a contract extension. Tate is both a promising young player and one who might also get European interest so locking him down is smart.

What are the odds Thomas Müller is back for the sprint season?

Stephen Eustaquio is joining Swansea City, while Niko Sigur might be headed to Celtic.

Jayden Nelson is headed to Bolton Wanderers, reportedly earning the Caps some money from a sell on.

Across the league, Inter Miami have a new boss in charge, as they try and kick back into form.