Transfer Watch: Mexican star Giovani Dos Santos reportedly in talks to join MLS

Make it two straight days that the name Giovani Dos Santos is linked by media to MLS.

A Tuesday report from Spanish outlet El Periódico Mediterráneo claims claims that the Mexican national team standout could be set to leave Spanish La Liga club Villarreal to move to MLS in a big-money transfer this summer with the LA Galaxy mentioned as a potential destination.

According to the outlet, Dos Santos has already turned down an offer from big-spending Mexican giants UANL Tigres, who are seeking Copa Libertadores glory this summer.

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An exciting, attack-minded talent, Dos Santos spent years in the FC Barcelona system before continuing his career at England's Tottenham Hotspur, then returning to Spain with Mallorca and now Villarreal, where he had one goal and three assists in 27 league matches during the 2014-'15 season.

Dos Santos has made 86 appearances for the Mexican national team and recently scored for El Tri in their 2-2 friendly draw with Costa Rica in Orlando this week.

Other outlets on this side of the Atlantic have echoed the Spanish report, with Mexico's

The 26-year-old Dos Santos, who can play a range of roles on the flanks or centrally, has been called into Mexico's squad for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. El Tri have been drawn into Group C and the six-time champs will kick off their tournament against Cuba at Soldier Field on July 9, with group-stage matches vs. Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago to follow.

The Galaxy are currently carrying their maximum allotment of three Designated Players:Robbie Keane, Omar Gonzalez and new arrival Steven Gerrard. But ESPN's Taylor Twellman suggested on Monday that MLS executives may be considering new signing mechanisms to court high-profile talent like Dos Santos and his Mexican teammate Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez,” a recurring subject of MLS transfer speculation whose name has been connected to the league again in recent weeks.

New player? Hollywood star Tom Hanks offers to suit up for USWNT's showdown with Germany | SIDELINE

Tom Hanks once played the manager of a women’s team. Now, the Hollywood celebrity wants to play for one, too.

Hanks took to Twitter on Monday to jokingly offer his services for the US women’s national team’s huge semifinal contest vs. Germany tonight, “fake turf or not.”

The US women responded by making him an honorary member of the squad with a player profile that cleverly pays homage to some of his best films, including Forrest Gump, Castaway, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, Philadelphia and, yes, A League of Their Own.

A devoted USWNT fan (not to forget English outfit Aston Villa), Hanks has tweeted about the team before, even doing some sort of roll call earlier in the tournament. Now, he’ll just have to hope tonight’s contest ends better than the Rockford Peaches’ final game.

Gold Cup: Mysterious Cuba may be minnows, but they've got 2013 quarterfinal appearance to build on

CONCACAF's marquee competition kicks off on July 7. For comprehensive 2015 Gold Cup coverage, bookmark this page.

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MYSTERIOUS CUBA HOPE TO PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT

Cuba are the most mysterious team in this year’s Gold Cup, mostly because their entire squad plies their trade at home as well as the general lack of sporting information coming out of the country. Fresh off an upset at the hands of Curacao, one that knocked them out of 2018 World Cup qualification at the first hurdle, and a recent 4-1 friendly loss to the New York Cosmos, the Leones del Caribe will be looking to rehab their image at the Gold Cup.

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GROUP C SCHEDULE

July 9: vs. Mexico, Chicago, Ill.
July 12: vs. Trinidad & Tobago, Glendale, Arizona
July 15: vs. Guatemala, Charlotte, N.C.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Yenier Marquez, M/D, FC Villa Clara: The 36-year-old is still going strong, among the leading scorers in the domestic league and the most experienced player in this squad. Despite his age, Marquez is in fine form at the moment, scoring in World Cup qualifying, and will likely be counted on to play a big role if Cuba are to make any waves at this tournament.

Ariel Martinez, M, FC Sancti Spiritus: Also playing well in the domestic league this season, Martinez scored a hat-trick at the 2013 Gold Cup, and will most likely be a fixture in the Cuban lineup.

Andy Vaquero, D, FC La Habana: The defender provided the main highlight for Cuba in their loss to the Cosmos last month, scoring a well-taken consolation goal in that match. A veteran of Cuba’s 2014 Caribbean and Central American games team, the 21-year-old could see some time during the group stage.

THE COACH

Raul Gonzalez Triana is in his third stint as Cuban national team manager, having previously coached them from 2006-07 and 2008-12. He’s got experience in the Gold Cup, as he led his country in the 2007 and 2011 editions. A controversial figure, Triana was suspended five games last year for racist comments made during the Central American and Caribbean Games, but he has the support of his national federation nonetheless.

• Gold Cup preview: Can anyone challenge El Tri hegemony in Group C?

GOLD CUP HISTORY

Cuba reached the quarterfinals in the 2013 Gold Cup, where they were knocked out by eventual finalists Panama. They’ve reached the quarterfinals twice in the Gold Cup era (2003 and 2013), and their best showing in the CONCACAF Championship era was a fourth-place finish in the 1971 edition.

MLS/USA CONNECTIONS

Because of a tense diplomatic history between Cuba and the United States, no Cuban player in MLS has gone on to play for the national team…Among the Cuban national team players who played at previous Gold Cups and subsequently defected are Seattle Sounders midfielderOsvaldo Alonso and former MLS forward Maykel Galindo. Former MLS midfielder Yordany Alvarez also defected, albeit during an Olympic qualifying tournament in the US.