MLS expansion franchise Vancouver Whitecaps still admit they want to take former Chivas Guadalajara whizkid Omar Salgado in the 2011 SuperDraft.

The 17-year old controversially left Mexico last year to pursue a career with the USA national team and is now likely to be taken by a MLS club on Thursday.

Despite the fact that he will not be able to play for the Whitecaps until he is 18 (which occurs in September), the club's director of soccer operations Tom Soehn says he is still a strong target.

"I don't think it changes anything," said Soehn.

"If he can't play [until 18], it means loaning him out or something else."

Salgado is tipped to be taken high in the first round of the draft but because he is moving internationally between leagues, he cannot play at senior level until he is 18.