The MLS summer transfer window has come and gone – remember, free agents can still join the league until the roster freeze on Sept. 15 – but that doesn’t mean the rumormongering has to end.
These days, the soccer hot stove is a year-round endeavor. When one window closes, it’s only natural to reflect on the signings, misses and elephant graveyard of dead-end rumors before looking forward to the next opportunity to reinforce. In MLS, much of the speculation understandably centers around United States and Canadian national teamers.
With that in mind, here are five North American stars – a laAlejandro Bedoya, Tim Howard and many more before them – that I’d like to see either return to or sign with MLS – for both the competitive jolt as well as the storylines they’d generate.
A.J. Soares
- Position: Center back
- Age: 27
- Current club: AGF Aarhus (Denmark)
During his four seasons in New England (2011-14), Soares established himself as one of MLS’s steadiest central defenders, starting more than 100 regular season games and nearly helping the club raise MLS Cup in 2014. Then he headed to Scandinavia to Norwegian Tippeligaen club Viking FK, where he spent a year and a half largely off the MLS radar before becoming a free agent this summer.
It may not have made headlines during the window – he did pop up on the radar after a short-lived training stint with Orlando City that coincided with a visit to see college teammate Servando Carrasco – but Soares was interested in returning to MLS, albeit for a TAM-level salary. With New England holding the right of first refusal, more than a handful of clubs, were interested in acquiring his MLS rights. The Revs rebuffed those advances.
In the meantime, Soares inked a two-year deal with Danish giants AGF Aarhus, forcing his way into the club’s starting lineup almost immediately. Could the likes of New York City FC, Orlando City or any number of other defense-starved clubs use an MLS-experienced central defender in the prime of his career? No doubt, and it’s a shame a deal didn’t get done.
Terrence Boyd
- Position: Striker
- Age: 25
- Current club: RB Leipzig (Germany)
I’ll start by saying I have a soft spot for Boyd. During an ExtraTime Radio interview in Panama City ahead of the United States national team’s World Cup qualifier against the Canaleros in 2013 – the San Zusi game – the then-Rapid Vienna player detailed a complicated relationship with his pet turtles, opened up about his personal life and, above all, exuded positivity. He had reason to be happy. He was on his way toward becoming a USMNT regular, and his international and club future looked bright.
Then came the knee problems – two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries that threatened to, at worst, end his career and, at best, keep him in the trainer’s room for nearly two years.
These days he’s back in training with Leipzig, a club he joined ahead of the 2014/15 season in hopes of leading the side to Bundesliga promotion, and even scored a goal during preseason preparations. In an interview with Kicker this summer, Boyd called this a “do-or-die year” as he attempts to put the injuries that have stalled his once-promising career behind him.
Here’s a scenario I think would work swimmingly for Boyd, Leipzig and sister club New York Red Bulls. When Omer Damari’s loan ends at the end of the 2016 season, why not give Boyd what amounts to a six-month trial as his Leipzig contract comes to a close? He needs playing time and a fresh start, loves the United States and could offer a physical alternative to Bradley Wright-Phillips. Who knows, maybe he even rediscovers the form that helped him score a goal every other game for Rapid Vienna.
Paging Ali Curtis and Jesse Marsch…
Miguel Ibarra
- Position: Winger, second forward
- Age: 26
- Current club: Club León (Mexico)
Too bad Jurgen Klinsmann isn’t the manager at Club León.
The USMNT boss had plenty of love for the former Minnesota United FC star, but that level of enthusiasm doesn’t seem to be shared by Juan Antonio Pizzi and Luis Fernando Tena, Ibarra’s managers so far in León. He’s mainly featured in Copa MX play since moving from NASL to Liga MX last June and has just one goal in league play.
The good news is that he played 79 minutes in the club’s Copa win against Atlante in late July and has made the bench in three of León’s four league games so far this season. The bad news is he failed to see the field in all three of those matches. León hasn’t yet scored in four Liga MX contests and still Ibarra’s attacking qualities have been deemed surplus to requirements.
I know a certain MLS expansion side that could use a player like Ibarra, who is not currently subject to the allocation order or a right of first refusal. Perhaps this team has an important announcement scheduled for later this week. Call me loony, but I think a homecoming is in order this winter.
Oguchi Onyewu
- Position: Center back
- Age: 34
- Current club: Free agent
It’s time to come home, Gooch. After a series of short-term deals in Europe following some extended injury woes, it appears we might finally get to see the man who once upon a time was the USMNT’s most physically imposing defender play in MLS.
Word through the grapevine is that Onyewu is back in the states and would like to play in MLS. As a free agent, he could sign with the league anytime before the Sept. 15 roster freeze date. Like Ibarra, there’s no Allocation Ranking or right of first refusal to complicate matters.
Where could he go? Well, considering the Soares situation, the Revolution could sure use an experienced central defender – and they're not the only ones.
Atiba Hutchinson
- Position: Midfielder
- Age: 33
- Current club: Besiktas (Turkey)
You didn’t think I was going to leave Canadians out, did you? Tosaint Ricketts already returned from Turkey this summer, which means I’m setting my sights on an even bigger target.
Hutchinson may be 33 years old now, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down after more than a decade in Europe. He’s Canada’s best international player – until Cyle Larin takes the mantle, that is – and has been a mainstay in Besiktas’ XI for the past three seasons, notably drawing the praise of Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger following a UEFA Champions League match in 2014.
Yes, he’s from the Toronto area, but the Reds’ budget appears to be maxed out. It seems to me that the Vancouver Whitecaps could use a leader to lead their cadre of young talent to the promised land. Just an idea, Robbo.
Who is on your MLS wish list? Let us know in the comments section below!
