Venezuelan international Jorge Rojas and Argentinean midfielder Juan Pietravallo -- the Red Bulls signed Mexican defender Diego Jimenez, a youth international who last played for Tecos in the Mexican Primera Division.
While Vargas, Pietravallo and Jimenez wait for their P-1 visas and league approval, Jimenez doesn't need to obtain a green card because his wife is from the U.S.
A left-footed defender, Jimenez can play on the flank or in the center in a four-man defensive formation or he can be a marker or a sweeper in a three-man backline.
"He is comfortable on the ball, he brings versatility to the game," Osorio said of Jimenez. "Hopefully we can get the best out of that."
There is a strong possibility that another Venezuelan international -- defender Gabriel Cichero -- could join the Red Bulls on loan from Venezuelan club Deportivo Italia. The 24-year-old was in Red Bulls training camp last year.
"There is a very good chance," Osorio told reporters when asked about the possibility of adding Cichero to the club.
There were also reports that the Welcome cousins, George, a forward on the Honduras under-23 national team, and Shannel, were coming to New York on a five-day trail, but Osorio said that wasn't the case.
"At this particular time, no," Osorio said on Wednesday before the club boarded a plane bound for Kansas City.
All this movement means there are certainly some players competing for not only a spot in the starting XI, but a place on the team. That has led to some spirited training sessions for a team that is 5-5-5 at the midway point of the season.
"I cannot have complacency and I will not allow that in the team," Osorio said. "I can only hope that the response is we have to be ... [ready] for tomorrow's game. If that's not the case, then we will have to move on what we're doing at the moment and try to keep analyzing what we need to strengthen. Hopefully, sooner or later we'll have a more competitive team."
The Red Bulls are looking to bounce back from an embarrassing 4-0 loss at Colorado on the Fourth of July. Three of the club's five losses have been blowouts -- at Colorado, D.C. United (4-1) and at home against the Chicago Fire (5-1).
There is some immediate good news for the Red Bulls as forward Juan Pablo Angel is scheduled to make his first start since scoring the game-winner against Chivas USA June 5 at Giants Stadium.
Angel, who came off the bench to play the second half against Colorado, has been sidelined with a strained hamstring suffered late against the Red-and-White. As for fellow designated player Claudio Reyna, Osorio said the veteran midfielder is still day-to-day after the Red Bulls captain suffered a herniated disc in his back.
"I would say probably in two or three weeks time he will be ready," Osorio said of Reyna, who has missed seven consecutive MLS games.
Despite some very lopsided defeats, the Red Bulls sit three points in front of the Wizards in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. A win at K.C., though, could move New York up as far as third in the tight and unpredictable East. And considering the stretch of eight road games in the past 28 days, that's not too bad.
"It's been tough and it's taken a toll on the guys," Dave van den Bergh said. "But we can come out in a reasonably good position if we can get points in Kansas City. I'm not too worried. It was a tough stretch, but we got some good results on the road, tying New England and Chivas away."
Van den Bergh has arguably been the Red Bulls' most consistent player in the first half of the season. The veteran Dutch midfielder is the team's leading scorer and has played as a left back, a left midfielder and a central midfielder this season.
"I like it," van den Bergh said of playing multiple positions. "I like being versatile because if I was playing the same position week in and week out, I'd become predictable."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
