Several veteran Sounders might not be back

Max Aquino / Sounder at Heart Next year’s roster could end up looking a lot different after several key veterans showed up on the Seattle Sounders’ list of out-of-contract and Re-Entry Draft eligible players.

The most notable of those players was João Paulo, who was on a one-year loan with an option to buy. It was not immediately clear if his status was simply a product of the Sounders not finalizing their decision on whether or not to complete the transfer or indicative of a desire not to bring him back.

One possibility is that the Sounders are looking to renegotiate their purchase option for him, as the deal was made prior to the pandemic and they may feel as though they are in position to…