Where do MLS teams still need to strengthen?
The dying embers of the MLS close season petered out with the MLS SuperDraft last week. Clubs and players are preparing to return to their duties over the next few days to start the preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Even with preseason right around the corner, many clubs are still in the process of confirming their squads prior to the start of the season. There is still ample work ahead to sift through possible signings and stretch the boundaries of the salary budget to reinforce before opening day in March.
With those thoughts in mind, here is a club-by-club look at the state of affairs for all 20 teams:
Chicago Fire: Fire general manager Nelson Rodriguez preached the importance of signing a pair of veteran center backs before the start of the season. Those moves aren’t over the line yet despite the pursuit of several targets, but they are critical to establishing a firm foundation in Veljko Paunovic’s first season. Another forward is a possibility if the Fire can shift the profligate Kennedy Igboananike.
Colorado Rapids: This is an offseason of lofty targets in Commerce City. Look for the Rapids to pursue big names -- Alan Pulido remains on the radar -- in a bid to increase the options in the attacking third.
Columbus Crew SC: Most of the MLS Cup core remains firmly in place, but there is room for tinkering around the edges. Crew SC coach and technical director Gregg Berhalter probably needs a striker first and foremost after Jack McInerney decamped to Portland and Aaron Schoenfeld signed in Israel.
D.C. United: Central midfield is the primary area of need. United coach Ben Olsen said Markus Halsti is the leading candidate to replace the departed Perry Kitchen. The injection of more creativity going forward is likely to come from outside the squad, though. Estudiantes midfielder Leonardo Gil is a top loan target, according to the Washington Post.
FC Dallas: FCD reinforced in central midfield by signing Colombian midfielder Juan Esteban Ortiz on Wednesday. The primary question in Frisco: Is FCD comfortable with Maxi Urruti as the first-choice number nine? Either way, Oscar Pareja needs another option in that department. There are also whispers about a potential addition in the heart of defense.
Houston Dynamo: This offseason of retooling still requires a top-class center back or two to erase those lingering problems in defense. The decision to re-sign Ricardo Clark eases some of the worries in the center of the park, but there is a lot of clutter in that department right now even with Brad Davis now with Sporting Kansas City.
LA Galaxy: Galaxy manager Bruce Arena continues to sift through experienced options in a bid to compensate for the departures of Omar Gonzalez and Juninho. Ashley Cole and Jelle van Damme are both expected to sign sooner rather than later, but Nigel de Jong’s status is uncertain. If all three players join the Galaxy, then the resources are just about tapped.
Montréal Impact: All of the plans are contingent on Didier Drogba. If Drogba opts to fulfill the last year of his contract, then the Impact can focus reinforcing in the wide areas (the arrival of Lucas Ontivero on Tuesday mitigates the loss of Dilly Duka) and in defense. If Drogba exits, then the Impact needs a striker desperately.
Montréal Impact cannot truly move forward until Didier Drogba resolves his future.
New England Revolution: Revolution president Brian Bilello said a Designated Player signing is on the way this summer. The instant concerns involve the options in defense (Jordan McCrary addresses the issues at fullback, but there is still room for a central defender) and the fate of Jermaine Jones (expect a central midfielder if he opts to sign elsewhere).
New York City FC: NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira desperately needs defenders in order to cobble together a competent back four. Costa Rican fullback Ronald Matarrita is finally sorted out, but there is a need for at least one, if not two, center backs before the start of the season.
New York Red Bulls: Most of the squad is in place from the Supporters’ Shield run a year ago, but the questions surrounding Matt Miazga (pursuit of a potential European move with one year left on his contract) and Damien Perrinelle (rehabilitation from a knee injury) increases the need for defensive reinforcements. RB Leipzig fullback Tim Sebastian is heavily linked with a move to address some of those concerns.
Orlando City: “We still feel as though we’re maybe short of 2 or 3 first-team, maybe coming off the bench, players, but we’re trying to actively sort that out,” Orlando City coach Adrian Heath told FOX Soccer last week. “One of the issues last year was that we didn’t have enough strength in depth. That’s something we have to try and address.”
Philadelphia Union: Union sporting director Earnie Stewart continues to take stock of a team in flux. Joshua Yaro’s arrival reduced the pressing need for a center back (though Philly still needs more options there to free Maurice Edu to play in midfield). Center forward remains a priority after Fernando Aristeguieta returned to Nantes.
Portland Timbers: Credit the MLS Cup winners for moving deftly in the market to ease salary budget issues and plug holes. The raft of experienced MLS signings -- players like Ned Grabavoy, Chris Klute and Jack McInerney -- relieves some of the pressure. The only outstanding piece of business is probably to find a replacement for outgoing winger Rodney Wallace.
Real Salt Lake: Yura Movsisyan filled one of the primary objectives -- a reliable number nine capable of scoring regularly -- when he returned on loan from Spartak Moscow this week. The next step for this group: increasing the defensive options with a steady center back. Sebastian Jaime’s future bears some watching, too.
San Jose Earthquakes: Most of the shopping is done at this point after the arrivals of Chad Barrett, Simon Dawkins and Andres Imperiale. The more pressing concern is whether Matias Perez Garcia -- an awkward fit with this regime and this tactical setup -- returns for the 2016 campaign.
Seattle Sounders: Jordan Morris offered the Sounders a boost when he rejected Werder Bremen on Tuesday. Morris’ impending arrival provides another, more youthful option up front. Seattle general manager Garth Lagerwey told FOX Soccer last week that he hoped to add depth in midfield as well. The addition of Michael Farfan on Wednesday certainly qualifies.
Sporting Kansas City: There is little flexibility left within the ranks after a spate of acquisitions (Brad Davis and Justin Mapp) and re-signings (Soni Mustivar and Paulo Nagamura) earlier in the offseason. If Sporting manager Peter Vermes is going to add to the side, then center forward and central defense loom as the most likely areas.
Toronto FC: TFC is firmly on course to win yet another offseason after Clint Irwin joined a raft of seasoned MLS acquisitions -- including Steven Beitashour, Will Johnson and Drew Moor -- in Ontario earlier this week. Reds general manager Tim Bezbatchenko told the Toronto SUN he was “done for the time being” with adding players to the roster.
Vancouver Whitecaps: Costa Rica winger Christian Bolaños completed his long-awaited move from Deportivo Saprissa on Wednesday. Bolaños’ arrival -- plus the earlier signing of Japanese striker Masato Kudo -- address some concerns in the attacking third. Other outstanding pieces of business include the likely departure of Darren Mattocks (considered surplus to requirements), the future of Gershon Koffie (available for transfer within MLS or overseas) and the state of affairs at right back.