This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Real Salt Lake remains in contract talks with star midfielder Javier Morales, and a decision could come sometime this week.
"I think we're going to have an answer by next week, one way or another," general manager Garth Lagerwey told fans at the team's Winterfest event on Saturday. "I don't know what the answer is going to be."
RSL has given Morales an offer, but Lagerwey has said Mexican clubs have shown interest in the midfielder and could make a more lucrative offer.
Morales' agent Alejandro Taraciuk said his client's top "priority" is to return to RSL, where he has played since 2007.
"There are some challenges to overcome yet but we appreciate all the effort and good faith from Garth in trying to find a good outcome for the two parties," Taraciuk wrote in an email to The Salt Lake Tribune on Monday. "And again, a happy outcome for Javi would be to stay in RSL for the next few years."
Morales made $477,500 in guaranteed compensation last season, according to the MLS Players Union. The Argentine midfielder, who will turn 33 next month, missed nearly all of the 2011 season after breaking his ankle. Last season, he played more than 2,100 minutes in 29 games for Real Salt Lake last year, notching three goals and nine assists.
— Aaron Falk