If Inter Miami sells Drake Callender, 5 potential MLS buyers | OneFootball

The assumption -- or at least my assumption -- was always that the Inter Miami starting goalkeeping job was still Drake Callender's to lose after his exceptional play last season.

Callender may have only kept five clean sheets. But according to Opta's post-shot expected goals models, he saved Miami approximately 3.5 goals relative to the average MLS goalkeeper. And he was also something of a human vacuum cleaner in terms of collecting crosses.

Even so, when Callender returned to the active roster this weekend, he was still on the bench behind Oscar Ustari, who has been entirely competent, if unremarkable, through four starts with the Herons. And in the Sunday Night Soccer clash against the Houston Dynamo, Apple TV analyst Taylor Twellman suggested the 27-year-old U.S. national team pool talent could be expendable.

"Often times, you've got to stay with the hot hand in goal," Twellman said. "But that's going to get very interesting. Because there are about three or four teams that would make a call to Miami in a blink of an eye if Drake Callender is available."

Ustari is a longtime friend of Messi, dating back to their youth international days for Argentina. And Callender at 11 years Ustari's junior would have far more value on the trade or transfer market.

It's possible Callender returns to the field as soon as the Herons' Concacaf Champions Cup home clash against Jamaica's Cavalier FC on Thursday night. But if he doesn't, these are five teams whose sporting directors should consider picking up the phone.

Atlanta United

Brad Guzan is still capable of getting hot enough to carry a team for a short stretch, as he did in last year's Eastern Conference Round One series upset of Miami. But at age 40, he's also nearly guaranteed to led in a couple goals a season that he wouldn't have during his prime (See Wilfried Zaha's first MLS goal below).

Additionally, former Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson is now helping Atlanta with personnel decisions and is well acquainted with Callender's. The main question is whether Miami would consider selling to a direct Eastern Conference rival.

FC Dallas

This isn't a knock against Maaren Paes, who is one of the league's better shotstoppers and more interesting characters. If anything, it's the opposite.

In Paes, Dallas have a goalkeeper entering his prime who also holds a European passport. That makes him much easier to move than American MLS equivalents. And a potential summer move to Europe could open a path for Callender to go to Dallas.

Nashville SC

Joe Willis has been the No. 1 for most of his time at Nashville, but he has never entirely locked down the position, at times getting sidelined for Elliot Panicco by former manager Gary Smith if he had a run of a few bad games.

And it again looks like Nashville aren't going to score a ton of goals this season, which could put an extra emphasis on the goalkeeping position if new manager B.J. Callaghan wants to make the playoffs in his first full season in charge.

Orlando City

Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese warms up before the Matchday 1 home match against the Philadelphia Union. | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

This might feel out of left field given how consistent Pedro Gallese's presence has been for Oscar Pareja's side. But the 35-year-old Peruvian is in the final year of his current contract, and his play last season was very mixed. And this could be a make-or-break year for Pareja in terms of keeping his post in Orlando after years of moderate success but frustrating playoff exits.

Callender wouldn't automatically supplant Gallese, but he would offer credible competition for minutes and a succession plan should Gallese move on after 2025.

San Jose Earthquakes

Put this one in a similar category to the FC Dallas suggestion, and add the fact that current No. 1 shot stopper Daniel has had injury issues across multiple seasons, having never appeared in more than 23 games in a single top-flight campaign.

As a Brazilian national, Daniel might not be quite as easy to flip as Paes. But the prospect of one of the USA's best young goalkeepers working with former goalkeeper and American coaching legend Bruce Arena is fascinating to think about.