The Gold Rush: Darwin Quintero

Past Installments:

Alexandre Pato

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When searching for a potential Designated Player there are many factors to decipher from. Arguably the most important one is, dynamism, how impactful will that player be on-the-field.

While Darwin Quintero may not be a household name in the United States, he offers a unique dynamic aspect to any team he plays on. The Colombia international has spent the last eight years in Liga MX as one of the most exciting players to watch in Mexico's top flight.

If you're a diehard soccer follower there's a good chance you're aware of him from his CONCACAF Champions League exploits. He just happened to be a part of the Club America side that beat the Montreal Impact in last year's final. His best years in Mexico saw him score an impressive 66 goals in a six-year span with Santos Laguna before moving to America in 2015.

His form has dipped some lately in 2016, making him a reasonable transfer target for any club out there willing to spend money. Lately the trend has been MLS players leaving for Liga MX. How sweet it would be to see the MLS pony up and snatch one of their high profile talents like Quintero.

Pros

Pace, power, skill, and flair. When Darwin Quintero is in top form he's the whole package. He reminds me a bit of fellow Colombian, Fabian Castillo of FC Dallas. A winger that can impact any match he's involved in and can change the course of one at any minute with his pace and skill.

Atlanta United would be getting a proven star player that wouldn't cost as much as a high-priced player from Europe. A recognizable name from Liga MX and Colombia would surely draw a crowd from the Latino market. While he wouldn't attract the same hoards of fans as a Carlos Vela or a Chicharito, it would be a noticeable attraction of supporters from that culture.

Cons

Over the last half-season with Club America, Quintero's form and production have slipped. Whether this dip is temporary or permanent is impossible to know. So, the risk of a signing like this backfiring from a production standpoint exists.

At 28 years of age and a noticeable dip in form, the amount of prime years remaining for Quintero are a mystery. It's feasible that in the right situation that he could have four or five more great years in his legs. It's also possible that number is closer to two or three. The risk of this signing would completely depend on the transfer fee and wages involved.

Conclusion

Atlanta United could easily pull off this signing if they were motivated to. The question is, is the potential risk worth it when there are better options out there? Dynamic players are vital to any club and Quintero offers that in abundance when he's at the top of his game. If the club and MLS can work out a good deal with Club America for a modest transfer fee, then this deal makes a lot of sense.

For those who have never seen him play, here's a highlight video for your convenience:

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This has been another edition of 'The Gold Rush'. Do you agree that Darwin Quintero would make a good signing? Which player would you like to see us cover in future installments of the series?