What should Atlanta United do in the transfer window to improve their squad?

Atlanta United extended their scoreless streak to three matches with their 3-0 loss at the Chicago Fire on Saturday night. The result means that the Five Stripes haven’t won in their last six MLS matches and seem to be getting worse both performance wise and through losing players to injury and international duty. With the light at the end of the tunnel yet begin to peek out and nothing really new to talk about as far as on-field things go, it’s time to look ahead to what the team could feasibly do in the transfer window to help themselves.

The MLS transfer window opens on July 7 and it’s as clear as day that Atlanta United need to do something to improve their squad. Whether that’s get rid of players, bring players in, or preferably both, something needs to happen to turn this team’s fortunes around.

Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible for us lowly beings without expertise in MLS salary and roster mechanisms to predict what kind of wiggle room the team has to work with in the window. So we’re just going to have to use some wishful thinking and hope they have the ability to make some moves.

In a dream world Atlanta United have the ability to add a game-changing Designated Player this summer. If this is the case, the team must absolutely nail this signing in hopes to inject some life into the attack. What position is the biggest need for the club currently? Kevin Egan and Mo Edu speculated on the Bally Sports broadcast that adding a dynamic wide player should be the play. The AJC’s Doug Roberson disagreed with that assessment, proclaiming the team needs a true attacking midfielder to create centrally.

Personally, I tend to lean more towards a winger just for the simple fact that Heinze’s system is so uber-focused on width. I’ve said it many times but the ideal type of signing would be someone in the mold of Boca Juniors and former LA Galaxy winger Cristian Pavon just without the problematic legal issues. A dynamic winger with the ability to both create and score with pace and skill.

Atlanta United need a little bit of everything in attack right now and leaning on a pure speedster or pure creator wouldn’t make much sense. You need a true game-changing type of player who can link up with Josef Martinez and create havoc for opposing defenses.

Marcelino Moreno and Ezequiel Barco have the ability to play both positions but both have proven to not be effective enough wingers for Heinze’s liking. Bringing in someone who can be that impact player on the wing to complement Josef when he returns would be a huge addition to the squad. Now who that player is and how you get them into the squad is a different question, but I believe that’s the route they should go.

There are obviously some supplemental moves the team could make to help, like getting a capable backup striker for Josef or some help in midfield to replace Emerson Hyndman. But the big need is an impact player to help the attack.

I’ll leave the floor open to our community. What direction would you like to see the club go in if they can indeed add an impact attacking player this summer?