Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin expects Maurice Edu to be back at the club next season.
The veteran midfielder spent the 2014 MLS season on loan with the Union from Premier League club Stoke City but could join Philly on a permanent deal in the off-season.
Curtin is confident that the former Toronto FC and Rangers man will return to PPL Park for 2015 and beyond as a Designated Player and then hopes he can convince him to make the move from midfield to central defence.
"I hope he's in a Union jersey going forward and I think he will be," Curtin told MLSsoccer.com. "I'm cautiously optimistic we'll be able to make something work.
"Mo's a soccer player," Curtin added. "He's willing to play centre-back, for sure. If you look at his record when we played center back, it was successful.
"He's the kind of guy that, when you talk to owners, can shut down the $5 to $7 million player. David Villa's coming in (at New York City FC), Kaka's coming in (at Orlando City), and Maurice Edu can shut those guys down physically.
"And, soccer-wise, he can play with those guys. And he doesn't cost $7 million."
