FanPost

Spring 2019: A New Atlanta United???

I don't think any fans that follow this team have any doubts that there will be some changes this offseason. It would not be surprising if Almiron departs for Europe at a king's ransom, and it is entirely possible that we see other players follow him.

Despite the October 1 deadline passing, we are no closer to knowing the future of Tata Martino with our team. I certainly hope he stays. He is great for the team and great for the league. In the end, it is ultimately his choice because I cannot imagine Eales and Blank would not offer him anything that he would want to stay.

If Tata goes, who else leaves? Do other players ask to be sold? Do we not re-sign free agents who would return if Tata was still wandering the sideline? I don't know the answer to that.

What I do know is that we could be looking at a very different squad next season. A cursory glance at the "End of Contract" page on Transfermarkt will say as much. Our players that are at the end of their contract are Guzan, McCann, Parkhurst, Kratz, Williams, Kann, Larentowicz, Hildebrandt, Vazquez, Ambrose, and Wheeler-Omiunu. Will Larry and Parky retire? Who will be our keeper next year? Will Kratz, Williams, Kann, Vazquez, and Ambrose return as depth?

Draft picks at the end of their contracts include Gressel (option to return for 1 year), Robinson, Shannon, and Gallagher. Gressel is a lock to have his option picked up. If any of you are more familiar with the MLS draft contracts, please corroborate the strange and varied lengths we are seeing for these players. It is possible that Shannon, Robinson, and Gallagher are marked this way due to their time with AU2 and their loan with that team coming to an end. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

Homegrowns at the end of their contract: Carleton, Goslin, Kunga, and Bello. I'm also not familiar with the contracts of our Homegrown prospects. If these players are in fact at the end of their contracts, do we see any of them leave for Europe for free? Carleton certainly could if he doesn't see the possibility of more playing time here. Like the draft picks, I suspect some of these players may be at the end of their contract with AU2 and possibly not with AU. But that's on my speculation.

So there we are. What are your thoughts on our offseason? Who do you think will be back from this group of free agents? Are any of these contract details from Transfermarkt incorrect?

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