TFC looks to Africa for defensive help

Multiple reports today are suggesting that Egyptian central defender Ibrahim Said (you'll also see it spelled Saied) is set to join TFC.

This is a player that can help the Reds - If his reputation as a hothead, locker room cancer are overstated.

Said plays a tough game and has talent to burn. However, he's been known to have, um, issues with management at his various stops. While at loan with Everton, he is alleged to have falsely claimed that his mother was sick so he could travel back to Egypt to play in a local derby of a team that he supported.

He's bounced around Turkey, Egypt and, most recently, Libya in recent seasons.

As always, one must be careful not to get the name stitched to the back of your jersey until you see an official announcement from the club, but this story is rapidly moving through the Egyptian press. And it seems to fit with what Mo Johnston has been saying recently about having help on the way in the areas that it's needed.

Although it's hard to say whether Said will be a contributor without seeing what he has left (he's just 30, but it's been a couple years since he's been at the top levels), some credit should be given here to TFC management. One of the biggest criticisms of Johnston's style is that he is overly reliant on the UK for international players. British players can clearly play in MLS, but they also coat way too much. The best MLS teams find players from outside of Europe that can contribute for far less money.

Said seems like he might fit that description.

This is a high risk, but potentially high reward move (f it does actually happen).