RSL won't pick up option on striker Espindola

As things currently stand, striker Fabian Espindola's days in a Real Salt Lake uniform appear to be over.

RSL GM Garth Lagerway told reporters during a conference call Friday afternoon that the club has decided not to pick up a contract option for the 23-year-old Argentine, who scored five goals in 12 appearances for RSL last season.

Real has had Espindola on loan for the past year-and-a-half but opted not to buy his contract and make him a permanent player.

Real Salt Lake made similar loan agreements with stars Jamison Olave and Javier Morales permanent at the end of last season, and Lagerway said those deals have prevented RSL from having enough cap space to do the same thing for Espindola.

However, that doesn't mean that RSL won't try to find another way to keep him around.

"We haven't ruled out bringing back Fabian," said Lagerway, who noted that RSL could try to extend the terms of the old loan deal. "But nothing's imminent right now."

—Dan Rasmussen