Montreal Impact are getting closer and closer to becoming an MLS franchise.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has held further talks with Montreal owner Joey Saputo and has earmarked the Quebec club to become the 19th franchise.

Next season, 16th licence Philadelphia Union will join the competition and will be followed by Vancouver and Portland in 2011.

For the time being, the 2009 USL-1 champions will move to a mooted new professional soccer league which is yet to be named, deciding to break away from the United Soccer League's First Division.