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Saphir Taider is on his way to Saudi club, Al Ain.
Montreal Impact have not yet confirmed or issued a statement, however the news is rife on twitter and appears on the Saudi club’s official twitter account.
This will release significant salary cap for Montreal. The transfer fee has not yet been disclosed.
With the MLS transfer window remaining open until October 29, Impact fans will be eagerly anticipating the announcement of a quality replacement.
The club has done its business quietly and efficiently, the hallmark of Olivier Renard.
It doesn’t seem possible that Thierry Henry’s squad will be left even shorter as the MLS Regular Season run-in continues. It is highly unlikely this move with Taider would have happened without a replacement already having been sewn up.
Watch this space...
Some Saphir Stats -
Saphir Taider played 87 times for Montreal Impact. 76 (MLS), 8 (CanChamp), 2 (CONCACAF), 1 (MLS-is-Back KO game).
He scored 20 MLS goals (4th highest in club history), 1 goal in the CanChampionship and 1 in CONCACAF Champions League.
On 22 goals (al comps), Saphir is the fourth top scorer for IMFC in the MLS-era, one short of Didier Drogba’s total of 23 in 3rd.
His assists record is also significant. With 21 he is equal 4th with Justin Mapp in MLS for the club, and with 24, sits fifth for the club in all competitions since 2012.