Football
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent 7y

Orlando's Kreis on Cyle Larin: 'We'll lose him when we want to lose him'

Orlando City manager Jason Kreis is determined to hang on to forward Cyle Larin, despite the attention of European clubs.

Speaking to ESPN FC in an exclusive interview, Kreis said: "[Larin] is our player. We'll lose him when we want to lose him. He can't go anywhere unless we sell him, so we're very much a part of the decision."

Larin, 22, has been prolific for the Lions ever since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The University of Connecticut product has scored 38 goals in 70 league appearances, along with four assists. So far in 2017, the Canadian international has netted seven times in 11 matches.

That form has drawn interest from overseas clubs, but so far, according to one league source, none of the offers tabled to Orlando and MLS have exceeded $2 million.

"The offers aren't very high, so not worthy of consideration," the source said via email.

Of course, Larin and his representation will have their own opinion as to what is worthy, something Kreis admitted was the case.

"Larin is part of the decision too, but he can't decide that he wants to go without us deciding he can go, and we can't decide to sell him without him deciding he wants to go," said Kreis. "So we're in this together very much."

According to MLS rules, Orlando City will receive a higher percentage of the transfer fee, 66.67 percent versus 50 percent, if it waits until the end of the season

For now, Kreis is intent on both Larin and the team concentrating on the present. The Lions are off to a good start this season, with their 6-3-2 record good for second place in the Eastern Conference, five points behind leaders Toronto FC.

"I think that we're in the same place that we need to be focused on our jobs; help us win games, score goals, perform for us so that can become a club that has a chance to win everything," said Kreis.

"Then the other stuff will take care of itself. There's no point in us focusing on all the other stuff if we're not going to be focused on the jobs at hand. I think that we're very much arm in arm on that. We need to stay focused and he needs to continue to perform.

"At some point, when the right offer comes in that's the right offer for him and for us, then we'll look at that. But we're in no rush, and I don't think that he's in any rush either."

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