Seattle's fledgling Major League Soccer franchise is having no trouble selling tickets. Still without a team name and more than a year from playing its first game, it already has deposits for more than 13,000 season tickets.

But if the club were looking for an adrenaline boost, signing Thierry Henry -- one of the world's best players -- would do the trick.

Speculation on several soccer Web sites has Seattle MLS pursuing the French striker, and Henry has expressed an interest in playing in Major League Soccer. Seattle MLS part owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer is not denying the club's interest in Henry, a two-time runner-up for the FIFA world player of the year.

"Thierry Henry is one of my favorite players of all time. He has spoken in the past about coming to MLS to play soccer," Hanauer said. "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."

Henry, 30, is in his first season with FC Barcelona, and while his contract in Spain runs through 2011, it is believed he could join the Seattle franchise in time for the start of its inaugural season in 2009. Seattle MLS would have to pay a hefty transfer fee to pry Henry from Barcelona.

His transfer from English Premiership club Arsenal, where he rocketed to stardom from 1999-2007, to Barcelona came at a reported cost of $32 million.

The London Sun reported on its Web site Wednesday that Seattle MLS is willing to offer Henry $297,000 a week to come to the States. Henry has expressed interest in playing stateside.

"I always say that one day I can play over there," Henry told The New York Times in November. "I would love to. It's still early. Don't get me wrong, I just love the U.S. I don't know why. I love the way you live. I love American sports. For me, it's a dream to go to training and then see a game of football, basketball, whatever game."

If he were to come to MLS, Henry would join other world-class players listed as designated players -- those who don't count against a club's salary cap -- such as Juan Pablo Angel, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Marcello Gallardo, Claudio Lopez, Claudio Reyna and, most famously, David Beckham.

While the cost of a transfer would be daunting, it might not deter the Seattle ownership group that includes Hanauer, actor Drew Carey, Hollywood producer Joe Roth and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Vulcan Sports and Entertainment.

"If they want to get a designated player, I certainly can take the lead on that. Let's go get Ronaldinho," Roth told Kickoff magazine in reference to Henry's Barcelona teammate and two-time FIFA world player of the year.

"I'll pay him $25 million a year and put him in a movie."

Roth, Hanauer and Vulcan CEO Tod Leiweke will announce the club's name, badge and colors Monday at a news conference at the Space Needle. The name was determined by a fan vote that concluded Monday at midnight.