Armchair Analyst: Matt Doyle<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Players have reported to camp this week as preseason has officially begun across the league. You can jump on the social media platform of your choice and see clips of your dudes jogging, joking and hopefully not sporting too many extra pounds from the holidays.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Rosters around the league, naturally, are in various states of disrepair. Consider this a primer on the state of things, and a look at the biggest issue each front office has to address.<\/p>\n East today, West was yesterday<\/a>. In we go:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n So far, the biggest news of the offseason has been the addition of D.C. United<\/a> DP midfielder Mateusz Klich<\/a>, who the Five Stripes<\/a> were able to get on a non-DP deal. I\u2019m not sure Klich\u2019s an every-game starter at this point in his career, but he\u2019s exactly the kind of reliable, veteran ball progressor who can add high-level minutes across multiple competitions. Really good work getting him on the cheap (D.C. are eating most of his salary).<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n You may have, um, also heard they\u2019re after a DP forward of some sort. The latest reporting<\/a> is they\u2019re in for Middlesbrough forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, in what would be a league-record deal of around $20m.<\/p>\n Lath\u2019s goalscoring record is impressive. His underlying numbers are very good, bordering on excellent. He\u2019s the right age. He has the right physical tools. It\u2019d be an exciting signing.<\/p>\n They\u2019ll still have an open DP slot once they get the Lath deal across the finish line (assuming they do), and honestly, what they do with that one is what\u2019s most intrigued me about this team this winter. We\u2019ve known they were going to get a No. 9 \u2013 that was obvious. What\u2019s less obvious is whether they\u2019re going to add another DP winger with the other open slot, or if they saw enough of Miranchuk<\/a> as a No. 10 to rethink his role.<\/p>\n To me, Miranchuk looked much more effective operating in the right half-space as a playmaking winger. Move him to the right wing, Saba Lobjanidze to the left wing, and bring in a true DP 10, maybe? That\u2019s where I\u2019d be leaning if I was doing the roster build for this team.<\/p>\n EDIT: Of course this column went live an hour before Tom broke the Miguel Almiron news<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The only big move so far this offseason is getting Pep Biel<\/a> \u2013 who was on loan as a DP during the second half of 2024 \u2013 back permanently on a non-DP deal. Biel makes a lot of sense at that number and fills in on the depth chart both as a No. 10 and as a playmaking right winger (where he played primarily under Dean Smith).<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n Is the cash-based internal trade system<\/a> what they need to happen to finally part ways with Swiderski<\/a>? The Pole is a good player who makes a lot of sense for any team that plays with two up top, and over the past couple of years there are suddenly more of those dotting the MLS landscape (pro tip: wingers are expensive, wingbacks are cheap; if you\u2019re trying to ball on a budget, maybe think about playing without any wingers!).<\/p>\n Finding a way to move on from him is probably job No. 1, but irrespective of that, they need to go out and get a DP No. 10 who fits Smith\u2019s game model better than the relatively stationary Biel does. Some fullback depth wouldn\u2019t hurt, either.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Fire<\/a> made two of the best moves of the winter thus far in signing Jack Elliott<\/a> via free agency and finally, mercifully parting ways with Gast\u00f3n Gim\u00e9nez<\/a>. They have upgraded other spots, as well, with what look to be shrewd signings, and got a local kid with the No. 3 pick in the SuperDraft to fill out the No. 9 depth chart.<\/p>\n I like that they kept Navarro<\/a>, by the way. He has talent.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n New head coach\/CSO Gregg Berhalter has made it clear he wants this to be a quick turnaround, and as any sentient Fire fan will tell you, the core of this team\u2019s problems over most of the past 15 years has been underperforming DPs.<\/p>\n They have two spots open. They need a playmaker and a high-level winger. Could Ga\u00ebtan Perrin, who\u2019s been good in Ligue 1 this year and was dominant in Ligue 2 last year, be the answer for that second need? Seems like it\u2019s a decent bet<\/a>.<\/p>\n Regardless, they have an owner who spends. Expect the Fire to be in the headlines a lot in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n EDIT: The Barroso signing<\/a> initially snuck past me. Expect him to start at right back.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n As I\u2019m writing this, Denkey remains the league\u2019s record signing. That might no longer be true by the time this column is published.<\/p>\n Still, the need for a No. 9 was the offseason\u2019s top priority, and it\u2019s been addressed.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n The new top priority is sorting through the Lucho Acosta<\/a> situation. The 2023 league MVP said after the season he wants out, and has spent most of the winter playing footsie with Boca Juniors in the Argentine press. Even Boca\u2019s reported eight-figure move for FC Dallas<\/a>\u2019s Alan Velasco<\/a> hasn\u2019t stopped the discourse, and Lucho \u2013 as is his wont \u2013 dumped kerosene on the fire by not showing up to Cincy\u2019s preseason on time<\/a>. Or, as of this writing, at all.<\/p>\n I thought they\u2019d have sorted this out by now, but it\u2019s officially at the point where I\u2019m convinced Lucho will be wearing some other team\u2019s colors soon. That means Cincy<\/a>\u2019s got to go out and find a new playmaking hub to build around, while also addressing left wingback and some backline depth issues.<\/p>\n Bear in mind Nwobodo<\/a> can be bought down from his DP slot, so they could technically add a new DP even if fences with Lucho are mended.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Haven\u2019t done much, though I want to point out I absolutely love love love the Lassi Lappalainen<\/a> move. This guy has real talent and, like so many others, showed the absolute best of it while playing under Wilfried Nancy in Montr\u00e9al<\/a>.<\/p>\n For a team that ran out of gas because they played 50 games in 36 weeks last year, he\u2019s a perfect depth piece.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n They can buy down Nagbe<\/a>\u2019s DP hit and add another DP central midfielder \u2013 preferably someone who\u2019ll cover every blade of grass and win the ball all over the field like Aidan Morris did before he was sold mid-season. Sean Zawadzki<\/a> is very good (and to be fair to him, he played the final quarter of the season and the playoffs with a cracked rib and punctured lung), but he wasn\u2019t that.<\/p>\n Also looming: will they get a godfather offer for Cucho<\/a> from one of the Liga MX or Brazilian giants? That\u2019d put a wrench in the works.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n My understanding is Matti Peltola<\/a> is no longer a DP, but Klich \u2013 who\u2019s been traded to Atlanta \u2013 is. It\u2019s a strange roster build, but CSO Ally Mackay deserves a few more windows to unwind the previous regime\u2019s mistakes before we judge too harshly.<\/p>\n The sale of Matai Akinmboni<\/a> will have upped the GAM available, as will the presumed 2\/4\/2 construction.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m a big Ku-DiPietro<\/a> guy, and Jared Stroud<\/a> has been a useful MLS attacker throughout his career. As for Pirani<\/a>, he climbed from the first percentile among attacking mids in expected assists to the 21st percentile last year. Progress!<\/p>\n My point is this team doesn\u2019t create chances at a high level. Now, Troy Lesesne\u2019s press is supposed to take care of a big chunk of that \u2013 the press is the best playmaker, remember \u2013 and Aaron Herrera<\/a> at right wingback is a consistent provider of end product.<\/p>\n But still. Top-end, attacking quality is necessary to win in this league. They need an infusion.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Herons<\/a> made two of the biggest moves of the offseason in selling Diego G\u00f3mez to Brighton & Hove Albion (that\u2019ll net them another $3m GAM) and grabbing another $2.5m GAM (split between 2025 and 2026) in trading center forward Leo Campana<\/a> to the Revs<\/a>.<\/p>\n They also let eight players walk (including some high-salaried guys), so they\u2019ve got a lot of flexibility to work with. Some \u2013 though probably not all that much \u2013 will have been taken up via the Faf\u00e0 Picault<\/a> free agency signing (a good move IMO).<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n Reports are they\u2019re about to sign Telasco Segovia<\/a>, a young, Venezuelan central midfielder who\u2019s like an 8.5, more than a pure 8 or pure 10.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n I can\u2019t knock that, but from where I sit, getting a true No. 9 backup to replace Campana and getting a starting CB remains the biggest needs for this team. For the first of those needs, I\u2019m guessing this is their man:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Desde C\u00f3rdoba a Miami \u2728 Bienvenido al sue\u00f1o, Tadeo ????????<\/p>\n We\u2019ve signed attacker Tadeo Allende on a one-year loan from Spanish LaLiga side Real Club Celta de Vigo through the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. pic.twitter.com\/IRJ0tZBnYX<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) January 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Allende is more of a winger than a center forward, but he is, also, a center forward.<\/p>\n Given their GAM haul this offseason, as well as the cap room created by parting ways with Campana, Sergii Kryvtsov, Franco Negri, Mat\u00edas Rojas et al, they absolutely should have the room to add him and Uruguayan center-back Maxi Falc\u00f3n, which is being heavily reported in the Chilean press<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n It\u2019s not clear if Vrioni<\/a>, who was acquired last week in a trade with the Revs<\/a>, will occupy a DP slot. Right now all we know is New England are eating a part of the Albanian No. 9\u2019s cap hit \u2013 but not so much that they couldn\u2019t open a DP slot of their own.<\/p>\n From a roster-building perspective, it would make sense, from where I sit, for Montr\u00e9al to use a DP slot of their own on whatever part of Vrioni\u2019s deal they ended up with on their books. Until I hear otherwise, that\u2019s what I\u2019m going to assume will happen.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n Even after the Jalen Neal<\/a> trade they only have four center backs. That\u2019s probably not enough to get through an entire season.<\/p>\n Deep central midfield is similarly thin, though that\u2019s probably more by design, as it opens up playing time for 18-year-old academy product Alessandro Biello<\/a> and Hermann Trophy winner Michael Adedokun<\/a>.<\/p>\n We all know this team\u2019s not about to go shopping. It\u2019s fun to watch them build with what they perceive to be undervalued pieces with upside.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Nashville<\/a> addressed their biggest need \u2013 midfield ball progression \u2013 in trading for MLS Cup presented by Audi MVP Gast\u00f3n Brugman<\/a>. They\u2019re hoping that Yazbek<\/a> and newly acquired Norwegian Edvard Tagseth<\/a> can also do some of that lifting.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n If, as expected, this team plays a single pivot (Brugman) 4-3-3, they are short of bodies in central midfield and probably short of talent on the wings. There is also a question of Mukhtar<\/a>\u2019s best fit \u2013 he\u2019s not a winger (though I don\u2019t hate the idea of playing him inverted on the left), and he\u2019s not a free No. 8.<\/p>\n I do wonder if this is going to revert to a more standard 4-2-3-1 with Hany as the No. 10 underneath Surridge<\/a>. I still think that can work just fine.<\/p>\n However head coach BJ Callaghan spins it, a talent infusion on the wings is necessary and is, I assume, where one of those open U22 slots will be spent.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Revs rebuilt their central defense with the additions of Mamadou Fofana<\/a>, Brayan Ceballos<\/a> and Wyatt Omsberg<\/a>, have steadily rebuilt their central midfield over the past two windows (I\u2019m eager to see if Noel Buck<\/a> can bounce back from 2024\u2019s myriad disappointments), and spent a ton of GAM (which they\u2019d already accrued even before selling Esmir Bajraktarevi\u0107 to PSV<\/a>) to get Leo Campana as their No. 9.<\/p>\n As head coach Caleb Porter said this week<\/a>, \u201c\u200b\u200bWe had good players here\u2026they just didn’t happen to be the right players, once we got in here. They’re still good players, but now we have the right players. Now this is my team. These are my players. I’ve picked them, & I’m confident in the blueprint.\u201d<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n They seem to have a mix of depth and top-end talent everywhere, with right back the next spot targeted for upgrading (via one of those open U22 slots<\/a>).<\/p>\n Another center forward and another central midfielder? That probably makes sense, though we\u2019re most likely talking about depth pieces at this point.<\/p>\n A big question to ponder: do they use that open DP slot this winter, or sit on it until the summer window and make a potential upgrade for the stretch run?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n It\u2019s mostly been a quiet-ish offseason for the Pigeons<\/a>, who signed a couple of homegrowns and re-signed veteran playmaker Maxi Moralez<\/a>. But things picked up over the past two weeks, first with James Sands\u2019 loan to Bundesliga side St. Pauli<\/a> and then with reports that standout goalkeeper Matt Freese<\/a> has attracted European interest.<\/p>\n Oh, and in the midst of that, they hired a new head coach: former AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n With Sands\u2019 departure, d-mid is suddenly a position of need, as I think the holdovers (Justin Haak, more of a CB; Andr\u00e9s Perea,<\/a> more of a No. 8) are better suited for other spots, and youngster Jacob Arroyave<\/a> ain\u2019t ready.<\/p>\n Will they go out and spend on a DP slot? I find that unlikely, though that would be the surest way to elevate what was a good team last year into true contender status.<\/p>\n The only other spot to keep an eye on is left back, where homegrown youngster Christian McFarlane<\/a> might be off to Man City for good, or might yet stay around his hometown club for a bit.<\/p>\n Really, though, this coming year is down to Jansen. He\u2019s got to get more out of that batch of U22s than previous head coach Nick Cushing managed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n They added over 400 games of Bundesliga experience between Choupo-Moting<\/a> and veteran CB Alexander Hack, who will presumably replace the departed Andr\u00e9s Reyes<\/a> in the starting XI.<\/p>\n The never-ending supply of academy products has kept the depth chart filled.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n As always with the Red Bulls<\/a> it\u2019s a question of top-end talent. Is Choupo-Moting, who hasn\u2019t played over 2,000 minutes in a season since 2017-18, really going to be fit enough to start 25-ish regular-season games, and then fresh enough down the stretch and into the playoffs to make a difference? What about Emil Forsberg<\/a>, whose long, mid-season injury might\u2019ve been a blessing in disguise once the playoffs rolled along?<\/p>\n It would help if Vanzeir<\/a> performed like a DP or if he departed to make room for a higher-performing match-winner to take his spot.<\/p>\n Also with the news that John Tolkin<\/a> is on his way to Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel<\/a>, left back has become a position of need.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Lions<\/a> made one of the biggest deals of the offseason when they sold Facu Torres to Palmeiras<\/a> for a fee reportedly north of $12m. That\u2019s left them with an open DP slot and a big hole to fill.<\/p>\n Over the past few weeks, the only notable name they\u2019ve been linked to<\/a> is 20-year-old Colombia winger Nico Rodr\u00edguez, who\u2019d come on a U22 deal. Obviously, they have more shopping to do beyond that.<\/p>\n Biggest Transfer Need<\/strong><\/p>\n As I said last month, I think the smart thing would be to move Ojeda<\/a> into Torres\u2019 old spot on the right wing and to go out and get a game-controlling No. 10 of the sort that head coach Oscar Pareja really likes.<\/p>\n This is a big, big deal for a team with trophy aspirations. They can\u2019t swing and miss like they did on Muriel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Deep central midfield has gotten distressingly thin, by the way. And there\u2019s legitimate, high-level interest in \n
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