Report: Crew to add Costa Rican winger Luis Diaz

It has not been the season Columbus Crew SC hoped for. Under new ownership, president Tim Bezbatchenko and head coach Caleb Porter hoped to propel the team to success, despite only taking over in January. But at the mid-point of the season following a rash of injuries and a number of international call-ups, the Black & Gold sit on 17 points through 17 games and are in 10th place in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.

Because of the struggles, both Porter and Bezbatchenko have discussed changes once the summer transfer window opens. One target has come into focus over the few days.

Reports coming from Costa Rican media state that Herediano midfielder Luis Diaz has left the team in preparation for a move to MLS and the Crew. An article in Teletica says that the move was confirmed by Herediano coach Jafet Soto, that Diaz will make the trip to Columbus this week and that Diaz would join on a year and a half long loan.

Diaz, 20, began his career with Costa Rican club Municipal Grecia, signing from the youth team at the beginning of 2018. He quickly transferred to Herediano this past winter and became a starter, playing in 19 games and amassing over 1,400 minutes in league play. He scored once and dished out two assists.

Diaz was primarily used as a winger during his time at Herediano, lining up on both the left and right side of play.

The winger was called into the Costa Rican Gold Cup squad, but suffered an injury to his right foot in late May and was unable to play in the tournament. The injury was expected to keep Dias out for three weeks, meaning he should be back to full health.

In March, the winger was linked to an unnamed MLS club and is apparently ready to make his move stateside.

Adding a young and talented winger makes sense for Columbus in the summer transfer window. Porter indicated this was a position the Black & Gold would target even before the season-ending injury to playmaker Federico Higuain. The Argentinean’s ACL tear meant Pedro Santos moved from the wing to the No. 10 role, leaving the Crew to scramble to find a replacement with the players on the roster.

This is an ongoing story and Massive Report will provide updates as they come available.