European transfer expected for Fire defender Soumare

Fire defender Bakary Soumare appears to be on the verge of being transferred to a European club during the August transfer window.

"We've been dealing with this thing going on two weeks now, but it seems to be coming to a conclusion," Soumare's agent, Diego Gutierrez, said Monday afternoon. "We are obviously trying to find a solution to the current situation."

Soumare hasn't played since halftime of the Aug. 9 game at Houston, when he and coach Denis Hamlett argued heatedly. Hamlett has said Soumare will not play again for the second-place Fire until he can commit to the team.

Gutierrez said Soumare, who grew up in France, has three offers from European teams, including Boulogne in France. He declined to name the other two clubs or say which country they are in.

Soumare had hoped to be transferred this month, but after the Aug. 1 game against Real Salt Lake he seemed to understand the club wanted him to finish the MLS season, then go to Europe during the January transfer window. It appears the scuffle with Hamlett accelerated that process, but Gutierrez would not say Soumare's days as a Fire player are done.

"Really there's no news until we have a real agreement, and we're not there yet," Gutierrez said, denying reports the transfer was complete.