The MLS transfer deadline is fast approaching, new roster rules are coming and a star player is missing again. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s answer your questions directly.
Anticipation of the transfer window deadline
“Will any team make a big move before the window ends? And also any rumblings or movements about Fire? —Victor S.
“Do you think the Houston Dynamo will sign a DP or any attacking player?” —Charles T.
“Tom please, is Austin FC going to do anything big this season? —André
The main MLS transfer window is still open, in case you forgot. It closes on Tuesday, but I don’t expect much movement in the last few days.
Generally, these winter windows follow a pattern:
- A ton of moves in December leading up to preseason opener in early January
- Another big effort to attract players before opening day in late February
- A bit of a lull in March after the first two weeks of the season, with deals being finalized
- Then, perhaps, a little turmoil in the last two weeks of the window as teams become desperate and injuries arise.
I don’t see any storms brewing on the transfer front for several reasons. First, few teams are both desperate and urgent. It’s two different things. San Jose is probably desperate to see its slow start turn around, but does that translate into an urgency for new signings to fix it? I’m not so sure.
One team to watch is Charlotte FC, which is working on adding a winger via the U-22 initiative, sources with knowledge of the situation told The Athletic. Charlotte can save that ammo for the summer, though, alongside her open DP position.
Another team is the Houston Dynamo. The club has been working on a few deals in recent weeks. One of them is reportedly being finished: Jefferson Valverde, a 24-year-old defensive midfielder from LDU Quito, as reported by Michael Rosero – and the other remains to be seen.
The latter would be a young striker for his open U-22 initiative slot, but that search remains up in the air. It could very easily be postponed until the summer if no progress is made soon.
San Jose remains looking for a #10 DP and is off to a horrible start, but we’ll see if anything happens before next week. St. Louis City could use another option in the offense, but I expect that won’t happen until the summer.
The second reason not to expect big changes is that summer will be much more flexible, thanks to new rule changes underway.
The new rules, as Paul Tenorio of The Athletic reported in detail last week, are expected to come into effect when the secondary transfer window opens on July 18. Which brings us to our next question…
Which team will gain the most with the rule changes?
“Which club will improve the most with the squad rule changes taking place this summer? —Rouille M.
A brief summary of the new rules adopted by the MLS Board of Governors last week, pending MLSPA approval:
- Teams can now have three senior DPs and three U-22 initiative spots; OR two senior development directors, four U-22 initiative locations and $2 million general allocation (GAM)
- Two contract buyouts per season (instead of one)
- Teams can convert up to $3 million from a player’s sale into GAM
Generally speaking, teams with the highest discretionary spending will benefit the most: teams investing the most in transfer fees, DP salaries, and buyouts. It’s a boring answer and you probably figured it out for yourself, but it’s true. I am thinking in particular of Atlanta United, Chicago Fire, Inter Miami, Toronto FC, LA Galaxy and FC Cincinnati. Charlotte could enter this group with an opulent summer. Portland to a lesser extent. NYCFC for young players.
There is a sharp decline from Atlanta and Chicago to the next group. It’s hard to overstate the appetite for spending at these two clubs, for better (Thiago Almada, Hugo Cuypers) or worse (Ezequiel Barco, Jairo Torres). These two clubs have reportedly made full use of the new buyout rule in recent years. The good news is that they’re not afraid to spend, but the bad news is that resorting to buyouts not only means that the signing in question didn’t work out, but that it’s so bad that they don’t could not be unloaded in a transaction or transfer.
In the short term (like this summer)? Atlanta, with the combination of money to spend and having Garth Lagerwey at the helm of the organization. Have they missed a signing since his arrival last winter?
Atlanta can now either bring in another U-22 initiative signing or add a senior DP to an already loaded team. The club assume they will need to replace Almada in the near future and will be ready to do so this summer if a big offer comes in from Europe for their star man, but they could now sign a new senior DP without having to do so. wait for Almada to leave, if they want.
Chicago is also in this boat, but its recent track record isn’t as strong as Atlanta’s. Still, being able to add another senior DP is important for this group, who are crying out for a new chance creator as Xherdan Shaqiri continues to disappoint. In the winter, their only option was to add a young cinematographer. They can now add a senior DP, after spending $12 million on Cuypers, or invest in another pair of U-22 initiative signings.
Cincinnati could also benefit. The club needed to loan Marco Angulo just to open a U-22 initiative slot, but can now sign up to three U-22 players to bolster their depth and quality, while also accommodating their discretionary spending. They are looking for an offensive boost.
Finally, Inter Miami can now add another senior DP if they want, but I’m curious to see how they approach the summer. They could do it – and I’m sure Tata Martino would push in this direction – but only keep the two main development directors to add a fourth location for the U-22 initiative plus $2 million in sweet, sweet allocation ? This may be the best play in the long run.
Remember, Gregore and Kamal Miller were moved before Opening Day due to salary cap constraints. An additional $2 million GAM surely won’t hurt this annual dance as long as Lionel Messi and friends are around.
Rey-no-show
“What should MNUFC do with Reynoso? Massive question for a new front office trying to create a new vision from this team. —Sam M.
Once again, Minnesota United star Emanuel Reynoso has gone AWOL.
The attacking midfielder was due to attend a green card meeting on March 25 in Argentina, but he did not make it. He remains in South America. Last year, Reynoso reported four months late (!) for the 2023 season and missed nearly half of Minnesota’s MLS games.
Reynoso was integrated back into the team quickly upon his return and has finally looked like the same breakthrough striker he has since signing for the club in 2020, but the bridges appear to be burned this time around.
This latest absence comes after he was given a clean slate by a new regime consisting of CSO Khaled El-Ahmad and head coach Eric Ramsay, both of whom arrived this year.
“We are completely focused on the players and staff who are here,” El-Ahmad said.
Ramsay echoed that sentiment when asked again this week: “I want to focus on this group, these players and the staff that are here. »
Reynoso was fined without pay last season until his return. The club could void the contract due to a rift, opening up a DP spot and saving the money committed to its highest-paid player, but the club also spent $5 million in transfer fees to bring him here in the first place.
This is why there was such a strong argument that, having rehabilitated its image a bit with half a season of normal play last year, the club could have sought an overseas move in the offseason . It’s highly unlikely that Minnesota would have recouped its $5 million investment, but it’s certainly more than they could currently consider.
Reynoso is one of the most talented and joyful players in the league when he plays. He helped take Minnesota to new heights, including a close call on the MLS Cup in 2020, losing in the Western Conference final to Seattle after taking a 2-0 lead.
We can no longer count on Reynoso. Minnesota is moving in a new direction, full steam ahead.
A dream general manager job?
“If you were to become the general manager of a team, which team do you think you could do the most with? » —Flordecke
Obvious answers include LA Galaxy/LAFC (money, glamor and the natural appeal of Los Angeles), Atlanta United (money, fan base), Inter Miami (Messi and friends, South Beach), NYCFC (City Football Group support, but not a ton of individual freedom for changes) to name a few, but give me any choice at this point in time and I’ll take San Diego FC.
Wouldn’t it be cool to create a list entirely from scratch? Nothing to rebuild, nothing to unload. Just a clean slate. SoCal lives as a powerful recruiting tool and is right on the Mexican border as an added advantage for attracting Mexican stars.
That is why Carlos Avina Ibarolla is ready to go AS Monaco takes the sporting direction. This is why Lutz Pfannenstiel was in love with Saint-Louis (and had refused offers from abroad since his arrival). It was a dream situation for Mike Jacobs in Nashville and Zoran Krneta in Charlotte. This is why John Thorrington has been at LAFC since day one.
The most successful expansion clubs arrived with a clear playing philosophy that informed every decision, from head coach to first DP to booking minimum contracts.
It’s the ultimate test for identifying talent and closing deals.
The goose is on the loose
“Besides Zlatan, who is your all-time favorite Swedish MLS player? —MLS Sweden
What an incredibly specific question, but what the hell, let’s do it.
The answer is Gustav Svensson.
Here are two of my favorite Svensson quotes:
- “I have to collect all the horses and cover them wherever they aren’t, but I mean, I’ve been doing that my whole life.” (via MLSsoccer.com)
- “In general, I’m not afraid of things. I will fight anyone who wants to fight me. (via Seattle Times)
He was an integral part of the Seattle Sounders teams’ success during his career with the club.
(Photo: Jeremy Olson/ISI Photos/Getty Images)