Platt: Zator Close To Championship Loan Move

OneSoccer analyst Oliver Platt has dropped some significant transfer news today, disclosing that ever-present Cavalry FC defender Dominick Zator came close to joining an EFL Championship side on loan ahead of the European transfer deadline yesterday.

While things weren’t wrapped up in time for Zator’s loan to become official during this transfer window, Platt suggests that the subject may be revisited in January – and also states that the loan move likely includes an option to buy as part of the package.

Zator has been a league-leading defender across both Canadian Premier League seasons, with the former Whitecaps 2 man racking up 47 appearances, four goals, and three assists during his time with Tommy Wheeldon Jr. so far.

This season he was the club’s only player to feature in every single possible minute of action, following up an impressive 2019 campaign which saw him earn a national team call up. As consistent as he is in the back, he’s a proven danger on set pieces, too: for instance, he scored the opening goal of The Island Games.

Last year the 26-year-old quietly trained with Scottish side Ross County, though it remains unclear if the six-foot-two defender will lock in a similar training move during the offseason this year instead of his near-miss loan move.

The Alberta-based side was able to complete at least one player movement yesterday, securing a two-week long trial at Sheffield United for 17-year-old youngster Aribim Pepple. Platt had some more news there as well, stating that Pepple had also attracted interest from La Liga, Portugal, and another as-yet-undisclosed Premier League side.

Last week, the Cavalry FC gaffer commented that there were more players than opportunities for the CPL offseason, leaving clubs with a lot to do to secure their players offseason moves.

In terms of bringing players in, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. has kept quiet about what to expect – but Platt says the side is close to bringing in one of the better central midfielder’s from The Island Games. With midfielders like Joseph Di Chiara and Aboubacar Sissoko potentially on expiring contracts, fans of those respective clubs will be hopeful that those impressive performers re-sign with their current clubs.

Cavalry FC finished top of the regular season table for the second year in a row, but bowed out of North Star Shield contention in the postseason on both occasions. If Zator does leave on a loan in January, it’s likely that the interested Championship side would want him there until June – which means head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. would need to sort out a solid centre-back replacement.

Toronto FC II loanee Robert Boskovic made six appearances for Cavalry FC this year, but made it clear he was hoping to use the CPL to springboard himself up to the MLS level. It remains unclear whether he could return in 2021.

After the inaugural season, the club made waves with a different outbound defensive player when Joel Waterman became the first player to transfer from the CPL to the MLS. This year, rumours regarding Kyle Bekker joining the Vancouver Whitecaps have surfaced, though potential CPL MVP Marco Bustos shouldn’t been overlooked, either.