Loons felt ‘price was right’ to trade for Tomas Chancalay

Minnesota United at New England Revolution

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Stream: Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 82 degrees, sunny, 14 mph north wind

Form: Minnesota (6-4-3, 21 points) is winless in its last two home games after a 1-0 loss to Colorado Rapids on Wednesday. New England (7-4-1, 22 points) ended a two-game winning streak in a 3-0 loss to Nashville midweek.

Recent matchups: These two teams have only played five times in nine-plus seasons, with the last one a 1-1 draw at Allianz Field in September 2023.

Storyline: New Loons attacking midfielder Tomás Chancalay returns to New England for the first time since his former club accepted only $100,000 in a cash-for-player trade with Minnesota in December.

“Like the TV show ‘The Price Is Right,’ the price was right for Chancalay,” Loons Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad said on May 5. “Timing of it as well. We went for it and couldn’t be happier with the beginning.”

Another price went up for Chancalay. His salary increased from $1 million last year with the Revs to $1.27 million this year with MNUFC, per the MLS Players Assocaition figures released this week.

Chancalay, 27, has four goal contributions (one goal and three primary assists) in 934 MLS minutes. He is fourth on the team with 13 chances created, per FotMob.

With James Rodriguez gone to Colombia to prep for the FIFA World Cup, Chancalay’s playmaking will be more relied upon in the final two games before the league pauses for the international tournament.

Absences: Julian Gressel (toe), Peter Stroud (quad) are out. Carlos Harvey (lower body) is questionable.

Loons striker has seven goals this season, but has been scuffling in recent matches. He failed to convert on two penalty kicks in the Austin draw last weekend and was stopped on a breakaway in the Colorado loss.