Midfielder Benny Feilhaber is poised to re-sign with Sporting Kansas City, multiple sources have told ESPN FC.
The length of the contract was not disclosed, however one source with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Feilhaber's salary would be between $500,000 and $600,000.
That amount is higher than the Designated Player threshold for the 2016 season, which stood at $457,500. According to data from the MLS Players Union, Feilhaber's guaranteed compensation in 2016 was $412,187.50.
Whether Feilhaber will actually count as a Designated Player is still unclear. According to the MLS website, Kansas City has three DPs on its books: midfielder Roger Espinoza, midfielder Graham Zusi, and forward Diego Rubio, who counts as a young Designated Player.
In order to comply with the league's salary budget rules, Kansas City will need to use some form of allocation money to buy down the salary of one of the four aforementioned players, but there is ample time for Kansas City manager and GM Peter Vermes to make that decision.
Back in September, ESPN FC reported that Feilhaber was in "advanced discussions" to sign a pre-contract with an unnamed club, and the player later confirmed there was interest from abroad.
A source has now indicted that the club in question was reigning Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Be'er Sheva -- who also made a bid to acquire Feilhaber just before the close of the summer transfer window -- and that a verbal agreement was in place. However, 10 days ago, Kansas City significantly upped its offer, and it proved to be enough to keep Feilhaber with the team.
Feilhaber, 31, just completed his fourth season with SKC, one in which he scored seven goals and added 13 assists in 31 league and playoff appearances. All told he has scored 28 goals and provided an additional 40 assists in 145 league, cup, and playoff appearances. In that time he has helped lead the team to one MLS Cup title and a U.S. Open Cup crown.
Feilhaber has also played for Hamburg SV in Germany, Derby Country in England, Danish club AGF Aarhus, and the New England Revolution of MLS.
At international level, Feilhaber has made 41 appearances for the U.S., scoring two goals, including the game-winner in the 2007 Gold Cup final against Mexico. He was also part of the Americans' World Cup squad in 2010.