Report: Atlanta United in the market for a defensive midfielder and center back

Atlanta United is currently exploring options to acquire a defensive midfielder and a center back according to a report from MLSsoccer.com’s national reporter Paul Tenorio.

The report, published Monday night, states that the search for Carmona’s replacement began the instant the club knew that he was on his way out, which came relatively late in the global winter transfer window. This is not so much news as it is confirmation from Tenorio’s sources that the club is currently looking for solutions to fill the void left by the departed Carlos Carmona.

Atlanta UNited manager Tata Martino told the media after a training session last week that the team was looking at potential options in midfield.

“We have to be sure than any replacement we look to bring in would be someone who would contribute and help the team. So if we find that player, then we would make every effort we could to bring them in,” Martino said. “And if we find the right player, it’d be important to get him in this window as opposed to in the summer.”

Tenorio confirms in his report that Atlanta has money to spend, in part thanks to the sale of Carmona and the $750,000 of allocation money that came along with it. In fact, the club have so much money that the report says Atlanta is currently looking to bring in not one player, but two. The team is also looking for depth at center back, as Tata Martino appears not to yet have faith in last year’s No. 2 pick in the MLS SuperDraft, Miles Robinson.

It’s unclear whether one or both of these signings would come from inside or outside MLS. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez is reportedly on the verge of receiving a green card, which would open up an additional International roster slot for Atlanta if needed.

The MLS transfer window doesn’t close until May 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET, so there’s still plenty of time to bring a player in. The difficulty the club is undoubtedly facing is finding a suitable player that isn’t currently a key player for his club. With most transfer windows around the world closed, teams like Atlanta will find it difficult, if not impossible, to pry an important player away from a club since they wouldn’t be able to reinforce. Remember, a team can sell a player at any time of year, but clubs can only acquire players via transfer when their respective league’s window is open. Perhaps a loan deal, which Atlanta made good use of last year through the acquisitions of Yamil Asad and Anton Walkes, might be a possible solution. Only time will tell, but the chase is most definitely on.