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Orlando City SC have been buoyed in their hopes of potentially signing FC Porto playmaker Juan Fernando Quintero with New York Red Bulls now out of the race.

Well, that’s according to MSG Networks’ Kristian Dyer who quoted a ‘league source’ in an article for Metro lately.

Although all the Juan Fernando Quintero talk is at best flimsy and at worst fantasy, the source claimed a Red Bulls move for the Colombian international does: “Not appear likely as the Red Bulls are not in the mix for the player.”

No smoke without fire?

While Orlando City SC supporters are refusing to get carried away with the Juan Fernando Quintero transfer talk right now (remember Grégory Sertic?), news of an MLS switch certainly won’t subside.

Recently, Portuguese newspaper O Jogo ran with a piece that specifically namechecked New York Red Bulls and Orlando City SC as the two interested parties in Juan Fernando Quintero.

(Credit: O Jogo)

If Dyer’s latest report is accurate with New York Red Bulls no longer pursuing Quintero, it would appear that the coast is much clearer for the Lions to ramp up their interest.

To further complicate matters though, La Liga giants Sevilla were linked with Juan Fernando Quintero’s signature in May while Russian clubs are still reportedly sniffing around the 24-year-old.

Unless the 13-capped Colombian international is hell bent spending the next chapter of his career in the United States, it would appear Orlando City SC still have plenty more work to do in their pursuit.

An heir to Kaká’s throne?

Currently at the midway point of the 2017 Major League Soccer season, the transfer window is open until the roster freeze on Friday September 1^st.

As Juan Fernando Quintero would be a Designated Player addition, you can imagine that Orlando City SC are potentially eyeing him as Kaká‘s replacement.

The Lions captain previously let slip that 2017 could well be his very last season as an Orlando City SC player.

On paper, 24-year-old Quintero is a like-for-like replacement for Kaká who is capable of playing in the number 10 role or out wide.

With Giles Barnes, Kaká and Carlos Rivas currently commanding DP status at Orlando City Stadium, it remains to be seen how early Jason Kreis’ side could get their hands on Quintero.

Quintero joined FC Porto from Pescara for €5 million in 2013 but only making 42 Primeira Liga appearances since then, he’s currently on loan in his Colombian homeland at Independiente Medellin.

Whatever happens, if anything at all, the Orlando City SC Quintero rumours have got Lions supporters excited with the left-footed midfielder widely billed as somebody who could take MLS by storm.