Seattle's much-anticipated MLS team will announce its name and club colors on Monday - but much of the talk around this expansion franchise centers around a possible pursuit of Barcelona superstar Thierry Henry.

The league's 15th franchise will reveal its identity and the results of an online fan poll for the team's name at the Seattle Space Needle. Seattle Alliance, Seattle FC and Seattle Republic were the options on the ballot paper, along with the space to enter one of the voter's own choice.

The historic NASL name of Seattle Sounders is sure to be the favorite write-in suggestion, which may leave the neutral Seattle FC as the frontrunner, allowing Sounders to be added later as a nickname - although 2,382 alternative names were also proposed, according to MLS.

Meanwhile, rumors persist that the new club is pursuing French legend Thierry Henry as its marquee player. The franchise is reported to be tabling a $300,000 a week deal to lure Henry from Barcelona, where he currently earns $255,000 every seven days.

"I always say that one day I can play over there," Henry told The New York Times last November. "I would love to. I just love the US."

Team general manager Adrian Hanauer has also made no secret of his desire to lure the World Cup winner and former Arsenal legend to the Pacific Northwest.

"Thierry Henry is one of my favorite players of all time," said Hanauer. "I am now in a position with the Seattle franchise to consider such a player. It would be irresponsible of me not to explore and consider a possibility like this."

However, the player, who has scored 14 goals in 38 games since moving to the Camp Nou last summer, insists he is happy at Barcelona. Despite struggling in third place in La Liga, seven points behind arch rivals Real Madrid, the Catalans won their Champions League quarterfinal first leg away at Schalke on Tuesday, with Henry going the distance.

"I don't have any regrets," Henry said this week. "Not at all. It has been a fantastic experience. I am enjoying it. When you travel with Barca it is like the Beatles are in town."

England-based US internationals Marcus Hahnemann and Kasey Keller, who both hail from the Northwest, have also been mentioned as possible players for the soon-to-be MLS franchise, who have received 13,000 season-ticket deposits ahead of their 2009 launch.