Three Questions for FC Dallas as Preseason Begins

FC Dallas players begin reporting back today for medical checkups, physicals, and testing, so here are three looming questions facing the front office in Frisco.

Ahh, yes. It’s early January, meaning preseason is underway in Frisco.

Don’t expect FC Dallas to hit the field immediately, of course. Those first couple of days, as players begin reporting back, are useful for checking in on the health status of players who may have been carrying knocks, are new to the club, or are recovering from previous injuries. It’s like orientation day for the fresh faces, players like Shaq Moore and Ramiro, revealing where the vending machines are and teaching the security codes.

But big questions loom… and likely will be answered imminently.

When will Alan Velasco’s sale be announced?

If you are not plugged into FC Dallas rumor land, you might be surprised to hear this - Alan Velasco is returning to Argentina.

Velasco’s departure is a wild one, as he signed a contract extension back on December 12. Rumors then began to fly that multiple teams in Argentina, his home country, were interested, including legendary side Boca. The attacking midfielder was finally healthy after missing a year due to an ACL tear and flashed some of his talent late in 2024. He has always been targeted to return home, so whispers and rumors are to be expected.

But this one gathered steam quickly, and it appears Boca offered a price that Dallas simply couldn’t resist.

The latest figures suggest $10 million in cash and 10% sell-on. (Credit to the tweet above for the latest tidbits.)

Sure, Velasco still looks to have a high ceiling for some of us, but think about it this way. He’s coming off of an ACL injury. He’s never quite put it all together in Dallas. And a team wants to pay more than what Dallas initially purchased him for. That’s hard to say no.

Who replaces Alan Velasco is then the follow-up question?

While some fans and pundits may think Dallas will not replace Alan, the transfer window is open, and there is a lot of time. Dallas also has a ton of GAM to play with from the Jesus Ferreira move and likely the Paul Arriola move (announced soon). Selling Velasco expands their war chest.

Meanwhile, Patrickson Delgado was officially purchased after a solid debut in 2024. Delgado could provide a stopgap in an attacking midfielder kind of role for the team as they deal with the departure of Velasco. He’s versatile and a hard worker. He might have ended 2024 as a breakout player for the team if not for a nagging injury.

Will FC Dallas get a deal done with Asier Illarramendi?

The 34-year-old Spanish midfielder has been an excellent locker-room presence for FC Dallas since joining. He is a free agent at the moment but has indicated he hopes to remain in Dallas (despite some rumors linking him with Austin). Obviously, the price needs to be right. His presence will cover a lot of warts with the changes across the roster.

Personally, my hope is that Asier takes on a coaching role in the future, following a path like Peter Luccin did. It’s clear he receives a ton of respect from other players.

What is Paxton Pomykal’s health status?

Another big domino on this roster is the status of Paxton Pomykal, one of FC Dallas’ promising homegrown midfielders who endured a disappointing setback to miss almost all of 2024. No one wants to think that his playing days over, but the injuries have marred his development. If he reports back and is able to be a big contributor, the departure of guys like Paul Arriola and Alan Velasco may prove the perfect timing for Paxton to take his next step.

Could he fill the gap as an attacking midfielder?

Eric Quill wants “dogs” like Paxton Pomykal out on the field. He works his tail off. He’s a glue kind of piece on the roster. He still has potential to unlock.

The preseason roster, featuring everyone under contract, will be released on Monday as practice gets underway and the team prepares to fly to Portugal to get into shape ahead of another Major League Soccer campaign.