The Daily Dirt, January 10: Biglia, Asad, international slots

Check out last night’s Peach Pit (After Dark) for a quick update on some of the latest Atlanta United rumors:

Here’s some updates on some other questions that have been coming my way on Twitter:

• International slots: The team has nine international slots to work with after the trade with Colorado last month. Current roster members who would need an international slot are: Almirón, Heath, Jones, Kratz, McCann, Otoo, Villalba, and Williams. With the likely addition of Yamil Asad, that would make nine eight. However, the international slots do not matter until the roster compliance date. In 2016, that date was March 1 with the first games being played on March 6. Players who are loaned out do not count against this limit. While it would not surprise me to see another international slot acquired via trade, it also would not surprise me to see one or two of the current internationals sent out on loan in 2017. (UPDATE: Heath holds a green card, so he would NOT count as an international for MLS roster purposes)
• Yamil Asad: Speaking of Asad, his deal would be a one year loan with an option to buy. According to reports out of Argentina, the price would be $2 million to trigger the purchase. It’s way too early to speculate if that would make Asad a DP if he is bought, the transfer fee could be handled in many different ways that would prevent him from counting as a DP.
• Lucas Biglia: As I said on the Peach Pit, this would be the boldest of bold moves by Atlanta United. Reports out of Italy yesterday have Biglia’s agent headed to the U.S. to speak with Atlanta United. He would be very expensive, likely the most expensive purchase by MLS in its history. He would also likely be the best player in the league, albeit at a defensive midfielder position that typically does not see such investment. With that position being a priority in Tata Martino’s system, it makes sense to explore this possibility. If it can somehow happen, you do it and then figure everything else out. Biglia is that big of a deal.

If you have any other questions, send them my way on Twitter. Find me @Longshoe.

Domestic

What team has been the most successful in the SuperDraft in the last decade? (MLS)

LA Galaxy want Jonathan dos Santos and Romain Alessandrini (ESPN)

San Jose Earthquakes chasing Atlanta United target Darwin Quintero (ESPN)

Interview with San Jose’s Dominic Kinnear (FourFourTwo)

FC Dallas’ Ryan Hollingshead recovering after awful accident (Big D Soccer)

Western New York market deemed “not right fit” for NWSL (Democrat and Chronicle)

What Sigi Schmid would do to improve college soccer (MLS)

International

The 2026 World Cup will officially have 48 teams (Stars and Stripes FC)

How will it work and who stands to benefit (Sky Sports)

U.S. youth international Emerson Hyndman headed to Rangers on a loan (Stars and Stripes FC)

Local

Chattanooga FC signs a cooperation agreement with Wolfsburg (VFL Wolfsburg)