MLS Summer Transfer Window Update

At the mid-point of the MLS summer transfer window, things are beginning to heat up across the league. Let’s catch up with the latest news and rumors and how these moves could impact Atlanta United’s actions in this window and later as they build their first MLS roster.

Chicago Fire

Forward Michael De Leeuw had been announced in May, but officially joined the club in this window. He has already scored one goal. Designated Player Gilberto left the club on June 29 and later signed with Sao Paulo in Brazil.

ESPN FC reported today that 30 year old Borussia Dormund winger Jakub Blaszczykowski turned down an offer from the Fire.

Colorado Rapids

Tim Howard joined the Rapids after being previously announced. His acquisition potentially makes goalkeeper Zac MacMath available.

Columbus Crew

The Crew made their major move in May when they traded Designated Player Kei Kamara to New England for General Allocation Money, Targeted Allocation Money, their top 1st round pick in 2017, their top 2nd round pick in 2018, and one of the Revolution’s international slots for 2016.

They also transferred Emil Larsen to Lyngby in Denmark. He joined the Crew in January and only made three appearances.

27 year old Canadian forward Marcus Haber (out of contract, last with Crewe Alexandria).

Owner Anthony Precourt told the Columbus Dispatch last week that center back was a position of need and would be addressed in this window. They signed 23 year old Norwegian center back Nicolai Naess today from Stabaeck using Targeted Allocation Money. He will fill an international roster slot as a Discovery Signing.

DC United

DC jumped into action in a big way yesterday, acquiring 24 year old American forward Patrick Mullins from NYCFC (for “significant” allocation money and an international slot) and trading away 31 year old Argentine Designated Player Fabian Espindola (receiving allocation money).

They previously received Lloyd Sam in a trade with the New York Red Bulls. The 31 year old Ghanaian right winger was acquired for General Allocation Money.

Rumors swirl around 25 year old USMNT center back Steve Birnbaum and interest from Maccabi Tel Aviv. Transfer bids are reportedly rising from $850K.

FC Dallas

So far, Dallas has added two players and sold one in the transfer window. 18 year old Mexican-American Homegrown midfielder Alex Zendejas was sold to Chivas de Guadalajara for a reported $500K.

25 year old Trinidad and Tobago national team right back Aubrey David was acquired on loan from Costa Rican club Saprissa. 25 year old Brazilian forward Getterson was added on loan from J.Malucelli of Brazil.

Constant enquiries from abroad have not resulted in a transfer of 24 year old Colombian winger Fabian Castillo. Technical Director Fernando Clavijo made it clear that a deal is not imminent for the player at this time.

Houston Dynamo

With Wade Barrett currently coaching the team on an interim basis after Owen Coyle was let go, it is not surprising to see little action out of the Dynamo.

22 year old Argentine midfielder Leonel Miranda’s loan from Independiente expired and 31 year old Spanish forward David Rocha was allowed to head back home on a free transfer to Real Oviedo.

Steven Goff of the Washington Post mentioned yesterday that Jamaican international forward Giles Barnes was drawing transfer interest from overseas.

Los Angeles Galaxy

Team president Chris Klein made it clear on the Corner of the Galaxy podcast that they are standing pat. He said that they do not have flexibility to bring in players and they are confident in what they have. He did not rule out “small tweaks” which could mean moves within the league or involved their USL affiliate.

18 year old midfielder Hugo Arellano did join the USL affiliate from the Galaxy academy earlier this week.

If the Galaxy chose to make a move, Jose Villarreal is a player that Atlanta United could be interested in. He has spent most of the season in the USL, playing 14 games there (with six goals) while only playing three MLS matches.

Montreal Impact

Montreal’s trade with Toronto yesterday, acquiring an international player slot for a 2017 2nd round draft pick, indicates that the Impact are trying to acquire someone soon.

28 year old Chilean forward Marcelo Larrondo was rumored to be that addition, but reports have him headed to River Plate.

Hernan Bernardello, 29 year old defensive midfielder from Argentina, could be rejoining the Impact on a non Designated Player contract to fill that international slot.

30 year old Swiss national team midfielder Blerim Dzemaili will be joining Montreal next season in a strange deal that will see him spend six months with owner Joey Saputo’s other club Bologna in Italy.

That link was helpful as the Impact previously added 31 year old Italian forward Matteo Mancosu on loan from Bologna.

The club also made a trade with Sporting Kansas City that saw left back Amadou Dia arrive in exchange for forward Cameron Porter.

New England Revolution

Kei Kamara’s addition in May came with a high price as it saw the Revolution part with two kinds of allocation money and two draft picks. For that reason, there have been few rumors involving New England during this window.

Earlier this month, reports out of Italy had Palermo interested in signing 21 year old Homegrown midfielder Diego Fagundez for a rumored $4 million.

Juan Agudelo could present an interesting target for Atlanta United if New England needed to gain some allocation money and a roster spot for a move. He has missed the last four games with a knee injury, and moved to the bench in the prior two. Kamara’s addition will likely result in one of New England’s forward leaving at the end of the season, or sooner.

New York City FC

Former Atlanta Silverbacks midfielder Kwadwo Poku was sold for a reported $750K to the NASL’s Miami FC on June 29.

They used some of that money to acquire 26 year old Luxembourg center back Maxime Chanot on July 16 from Belgian club K.V. Kortrijk.

There are also rumors around USMNT midfielder Mix Diskerud, who has struggled for playing time. Manager Patrick Vieira admitted that NYCFC could part with the player.

New York Red Bulls

When the Red Bulls parted with fan favorite Lloyd Sam on July 7 for allocation money, manager Jesse Marsch said that the move was done to provide more flexibility in this window.

Those moves have not materialized yet. 33 year old Paraguayan forward Oscar Cardozo has been linked to the club, along with Real Salt Lake. Rumors also had unattached 37 year old Uruguayan Diego Forlan receiving an offer from the Red Bulls.

Marsch told Empire of Soccer yesterday that he will have three unnamed international trialists coming in: a Nigerian center back, a Portuguese midfielder, and a Spanish midfielder.

Orlando City

The Lions big splash came on the sidelines as Jason Kreis was named yesterday as the replacement for the fired Adrian Heath.

Another big splash could be on the way with both Benfica and Sporting Lisbon attached to rumors of a huge transfer fee for 21 year old Canadian national team forward Cyle Larin.

30 year old Swiss midfielder Adrian Winter surprisingly left at the beginning of the month when the his contract was mutually terminated. He then signed with FC Zurich.

Today, the Lions added 23 year old Uruguayan center back Jose Aja on a six-month loan from Nacional with an option to buy. He spent the first six months of the year on loan to Racing Club in Montevideo.

One potential addition is 27 year old American center back AJ Soares (New England holds his MLS rights).

Philadelphia Union

With the Union in the midst of a second place run in the Eastern Conference, they seem fairly confident in the squad Earnie Stewart has assembled.

Two names on opposite ends of the spectrum have been attached to rumors involving Philadelphia, 23 year old Guatemalan national team defensive midfielder Jorge Aparicio and Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli.

Portland Timbers

The defending MLS Cup champions have had a rough first half of the season and currently sit in 6th in the Western Conference. Recent results have turned the corner and placed the Timbers in the playoff picture.

24 year old Colombian right winger Dairon Asprilla was loaned to Millonarios. Goalkeeper Andy Kwarasay was sold to Rosenborg after losing the starting job to Jake Gleeson. Veteran Tally Hall could be brought in from DC United as a back-up option.

Portland added the name of the transfer window in 25 year old Lithuanian national team left back Vytautas Andriuskevicius on July 14.

Early rumors in the window had Lucas Melano heading to Boca Juniors on a free loan, but Timbers’ owner Merritt Paulson said that was not going to happen. Other rumors had 25 year old Nigerian forward Fanendo Adi receiving interest from Tigres, but Adi said he was happy in Portland.

Real Salt Lake

Oscar Cardozo, also linked to the Red Bulls, is the only current possibility. Aubrey David, who ended up with Dallas, was linked to RSL back in June.

San Jose Earthquakes

Dominic Kinnear said the club was “looking for everything” in this transfer window. The issue is that their roster is “pretty crowded” and it might take multiple moves to make something happen.

Seattle Sounders

The Sounders have been chasing 27 year old Uruguayan playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro from Boca Juniors for a while now. Rumors have had his signing imminent. With Boca’s elimination in the Copa Libertadores semifinals, it looks like it is only a matter of time before the deal is finalized.

24 year old Paraguayan midfielder Oscar Romero has also been linked to the Sounders, with a reported $8M bid to Argentina’s Racing on the table. Reports in Argentina have the offer turned down by Romero.

A rumor emerged today linking the Sounders with Tabaré Viudez, a 26 year old Uruguayan right winger from River Plate. He is reportedly under contract through the middle of 2018 and valued at over $3M.

The other possible move for Seattle would be to do something about manager Sigi Schmid, whose seat is growing hotter by the day as the Sounders sit in ninth place in the Western Conference.

Sporting Kansas City

23 year old forward Cameron Porter joined Sporting when they traded Amadou Dia to Montreal.

Ever Alvarado, a 24 year old Honduran national team left back, joined the club on June 24. Does the signing mean this is the end of 29 year old Seth Sinovic’s time in KC?

Toronto FC

Yesterday, 28 year old Canadian national team forward Tosaint Ricketts joined the club.

Center back Damien Perquis was released on July 13 in a surprise move, which opened up an international slot. That slot was traded yesterday to Montreal in exchange for a 2nd round pick in next year’s SuperDraft.

Vancouver Whitecaps

The Whitecaps have been extremely busy this summer. They acquired forward Fabian Espindola from DC United for allocation money yesterday.

Other additions included 15 year old Homegrown Player signing Alphonso Davies, Canadian national team center back David Edgar signing on a free transfer, and Canadian national team left back Marcel de Jong. The Edgar and de Jong signings could mean players like 32 year old left back Jordan Harvey or one of their center backs are expendable.

Vancouver sold 24 year old Uruguayan forward Octavio Rivero to Colo Colo in Chile and loaned 21 year old left back Sam Adekugbe to Brighton and Hove Albion.

28 year old Mexican forward Enrique Esqueda was training with the Whitecaps and being evaluated last week.