Minnesota United FC has had a bit of a break for the past couple of weeks, so I’ve had a bit of a break as well.

With transfer news, Olympic soccer, and Minnesota Aurora news, though, I have written a few things… so here are those links.

Transfer news

Loons sign Matus Kmet
Caden Clark traded to Montréal
Three players loaned out to make roster space

Summarizing MNUFC’s transfer window

Minnesota United made a big bet in the offseason, hiring Khaled El-Ahmad to be the team’s new chief soccer officer and sporting director — by any measure, a hire from outside the usual MLS pipeline.

After his first summer transfer window in charge, one thing is clear: El-Ahmad is doubling down, and betting big on himself.

Read the rest at StarTribune.com…

Minnesota Aurora drops out of running for NWSL franchise

Minnesota Aurora FC has been plenty successful, both on and off the field, in its short history. Unfortunately, when it comes to making a step up from the “pre-professional” USL W League to the NWSL, the country’s top women’s professional league, that success takes a back seat to what really makes the soccer world go round: money.

Read the rest at StarTribune.com…

The USA men’s Olympic soccer team lost in the quarterfinals. Does it mean anything?

Given the way that men’s soccer at the Olympics works, it’s pretty easy to make the case that the United States’ exit in the quarterfinals doesn’t mean much. That said, it doesn’t mean nothing, either.

Read the rest at StarTribune.com…