Real Salt Lake: On loan Escalada looking to make impression

With Robbie Findley and Tino Nunez each nursing minor injuries, today represents another opportunity for Luis Miguel Escalada to take a step toward earning himself a permanent roster spot with Real Salt Lake.

The 23-year-old Argentine forward has been on a temporary loan with RSL since the beginning of training camp — a loan that expires on April 15. Fresh off a solid preseason stint in South Carolina, Escalada will likely see a good chunk of playing time in today's free public exhibition game at Rio Tinto Stadium against the Austin Aztecs (USL-1) at 1 p.m.

By all accounts, both Escalada and RSL are interested in extending the loan through the end of the 2009 season. After that, RSL would have the option of buying out his contract from his current club, LDU Quito in Ecuador. That same scenario is how RSL acquired Jamison Olave and Javier Morales on a permanent basis.

Each step with Escalada becomes a bigger financial investment for RSL, the primary reason general manager Garth Lagerwey and coach Jason Kreis are being rigorous with their evaluation.

"He's starting to get fit now. He's a good soccer player. He's worked really hard, he's a great kid. We have another month to make a decision on him, but he's done everything we've asked," said Lagerwey.

About two years ago Quito paid Boca Juniors a $1.2 million transfer fee to acquire Escalada. By all accounts it was a successful acquisition as he scored 45 goals in 78 appearances. To keep Escalada beyond April 15 RSL would have to compensate Quito further, but Lagerwey acknowledged that the transfer fee would be significantly less than $1.2 million.

The biggest cost would be if Escalada panned out and RSL wanted him beyond 2009. Morales and Olave count nearly $375,000 toward the salary cap this year.

"The country of origin tends to dictate the contract structure, just because you have to deal with clubs in the matter with which they're accustomed," said Lagerwey. "The buyout clause at the end, which is usually sizable, the acquisition cost and loan cost counts against your salary cap. You spread those acquisitions costs over more than one year, but you've got to plan a couple years ahead because they're sizable if you exercise those clauses."

That's why RSL's technical staff is taking its time.

"He's been doing pretty well. He's been doing extra work beyond and above what's been asked of the rest of the guys, and he needs it," said Kreis. "He's taken to all that well. I think he wants to be here very badly, all those things point in his favor."

If things don't work out with Escalada beyond April 15, the only strikers on RSL's roster will be Yura Movisyan, Nunez and Findley. Kreis admits that's not an ideal situation, but he doesn't seem too worried — perhaps a sign he expects Escalada to remain with RSL all season.

"I don't feel it's something we have to do right now. We have a couple of guys in Andy Williams and Clint Mathis that can play up front in a pinch. When you have players like that it kind of speaks to how we've built this team with guys who can play different positions," said Kreis.

Today's match against the Aztecs is Escalada's first opportunity to play in front of what could be his new supporters.

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com