Kurt Larson of the Toronto SUN is reporting this morning that Richard Eckersley, the former Burnley defender, is preparing to make a permanent move to Toronto FC.
If the report is true and the recent decision to release Andy Iro and Peri Marosevic would suggest the club is clearing cap space for a signing, it would sew up one of Toronto's lone backline bright spots from 2011.
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Eckersley, who provided a level of confidence on the ball rarely seen from Toronto's back four last season, will join a back four that, at present, would look like this:
Morgan - Cann - Harden - Eckersley.
Adrian Cann told It's Called Football a few weeks ago that the club had indicated they were interested in re-signing him, after his contract expired in December.
Paul Mariner, director of player development, has been dropping hints for most of the off-season that the club remained eager to sign another centreback. It is unclear at this point what the former Burnley man has signed for and how the Eckersley move will effect the salary cap and their efforts to find another piece at the back.