GOAL US writers discuss the most significant moves in MLS's transfer window, and who is due for a high-profile switch
And so another MLS transfer window crawled to a close. In truth, it wasn't the dynamic last few days. Most clubs got their big swings sorted early, with Evander, Lucho Acosta, Miguel Almiron, Emmanuel Latte Lath and others all pretty much in place by the end of January.
This week has been a question oif tweaking – shrewd additions here and there. Minnesota United have every right to feel good about bringing in Julian Gressel, for example, but is he a needle-mover? That's up for debate.
Charlotte FC did well beyond the headline Wilfried Zaha move. Miami may have been unable to bring in Neymar, but they were shrewd elsewhere, and cleared some valuable cap space for the summer. Atlanta went big, though it's yet to pan out yet. And then, there are all of the smaller deals that could have an impact: Noel Buck, Daniel Gazdag, Jack McGlynn, et al. They could be sneaky additions – or subtractions – that result in a large impact.
So, even if Neymar is now playing for Santos, and we are no closer to knowing which MLS club Kevin De Bruyne may join, there's a lot to discuss. GOAL US writers break it all down in an MLS transfer edition of…The Rondo.
ImagnWhich was the shrewdest transfer?
Tom Hindle: Evander to Cincinnati. After it became clear that they were going to lose Lucho Acosta, the Ohio club needed to make a big swing. There's nothing more significant than the guy who the real hipsters said should have won MVP last year. And while $12 million isn't cheap, he's a game-changer.
Jacob Schneider: There's a lot to choose from, but Maxi Falcon with Inter Miami has to be the smartest move this window. The reigning Supporters' Shield holders desperately needed a central defender who could provide both physical and leadership traits – and he fits that mold. That single move might be what takes them to MLS Cup.
Ryan Tolmich: A few months back, it looked like Charlotte FC would move on from Pep Biel. He was good but not great during his brief stint last season, and the club couldn't afford to use a DP spot on him. Well, they found a way to bring him back anyway as a non-DP, and Biel has responded by raising his game right up to that elite level. He's got a legitimate MVP chance, if these first few months are any indication, and he signed on a contract number that allowed the club to do business elsewhere. This was as shrewd as it gets, and it's why Charlotte is positioned to contend this season.
AdvertisementGettyWhat was the worst move during the window?
TH: There weren't any massive howlers, but let's cheat and say agreeing to a deal for Neymar. Miami was always going to be unlikely – even if it was the football fan's dream. Still, there were links to Chicago and LAFC, and neither team got it done. Improbable? Sure. But it would have been nice.
JS: Not a fan of Miguel Almiron's return to Atlanta United. The storyline is brilliant, and from an MLS lore perspective, it is stupendous to see the best player to ever wear their kit return. However, some things might be best left in the past. Don't think he fits the mold of what they are doing at the moment, and early returns have shown that Alexey Miranchuk, Almiron and Emmanuel Latte Lath still have a lot of kinks to work out if they want to succeed together.
RT: The Philadelphia Union have made it clear that a new era has arrived. Jim Curtin is out, Bradley Carnell is in and change has come to Chester this season. That change, though, was a bit too drastic, and it included too much cost-cutting. Trading Jack McGlynn was wild. Trading Daniel Gazdag was even crazier. If this all somehow leads to minutes opening up for Cavan Sullivan, fine, but, right now, it's hard to understand how the Union got better during this window.
Getty Images SportWhich team bolstered their 2025 chances?
TH: Miami. They needed to tweak, and did it expertly. Even if they didn't bring in Neymar, Tadeo Allende and Talisco Segovia look like proper footballers. The signing of Maxi Falcon is also smart for center back cover. Throw in the fact that they dumped loads of money in getting rid of Gressel and Robert Taylor, and it's a job well done.
JS: Has to be Charlotte FC. Bringing in Wilfried Zaha, re-signing Pep Biel, adding Eryk Williamson and then a left back in Souleyman Doumbia – they hit every single category. Another shout, though, is FC Cincinnati – Evander is a bona fide star, and a sneaky good signing has been defender Gilberto Flores.
RT: It's hard not to love what Charlotte has done over the last few months. They needed some juice in attack? Zaha. A playmaker? Biel's back! Midfield depth? MLS veteran Williamson. Some left-back cover so you can move Tim Ream inside? Ligue 1 veteran Doumbia. And then, to top it off, the club gets a no-risk loan deal done – Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, a player that just a few years ago was being scouted by the world's best teams. Overall, it makes Charlotte one of the deepest teams in MLS, which puts them in a good place to compete for the postsason.
Getty Images SportWhat player should every team want in the summer window?
TH: Neymar. Miami. Keep it tidy.
JS: In dream world, Kevin De Bruyne is the ideal target. He would be another superstar in this league, and would elevate MLS – both on, and off, the pitch. Realistically, though, a feasible and exciting target would be Alexandre Lacazette. He is reportedly unlikely to extend his contract at Lyon, and his deal with the French club ends this summer. Still only 33, he would be one of the best strikers in the league, and a dream forward for any coach looking for a fox in the box.
RT: No need to really overthink this and make some hipster pick: De Bruyne is the obvious answer here. He's arguably the best midfielder of a generation and the type of player that would absolutely run the show for whatever team he's on. Stick him on a good team and the goals will snowball. Yes, it's fun when the league adds up-and-coming talent, but there's still something special about seeing a superstar like De Bruyne in American soccer, which is why MLS needs to go all out to bring him in.
