Sporting Kansas City crossed one big item off their winter shopping list on Thursday, filling one of their two open goalkeeper slots with Chilean veteran Luis Marin.
The signing came after first picking up a versatile forward from the Dutch second tier earlier in the day.
Hungarian international Krisztian Nemeth signed with Sporting after spending the last 2 ½ seasons with Erste Divisie side Roda JC Kerkrade, where he scored 10 goals in 45 appearances. The 25-year-old, who turned pro at age 15, has been on Sporting manager and technical director Peter Vermes' radar for some time now.
“I actually saw Krisztian when he was 19 years old,” Vermes told reporters during a conference call on Thursday. “He was already purchased by Liverpool at that point. What I love is that since then he's played in several different countries and most importantly in a system that we play, the 4-3-3, in Holland. So I know where he's been very well.
“He has qualities where he can play all three positions up top, and as much as he has a nose for the goal, he also is very good at finding opportunities for other players as well,” Vermes added. “I think he's just going to give us another dimension up front.”
Sporting had hoped to acquire Nemeth during this past summer's transfer window, Vermes said, but weren't able to make the deal.
“We've been pretty good at finding guys who are interested in coming to the United States,” he said. “The great thing with both him and Luis is that they want to be here, to be playing for Sporting Kansas City. It's not as though we had to convince them.”
The 31-year-old Marin, who has eight appearances for Chile, comes to Kansas City after completing a two-year loan stint with Universidad de Chile in his native country's top flight.
Sporting still have one more ‘keeper to acquire in the offseason Vermes said and won't rush to sort out who will become their new No. 1.
“I'm not going to deal with any of that stuff until we go through preseason,” he said. “But am I comfortable if he had to be the No. 1? For sure. He's got all of those qualities.”
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Vermes, whose club also added Haitian midfielder James Marcelin earlier this week, said he won't just be looking for another ‘keeper as the offseason progresses. Still, with a new collective bargaining agreement yet to be reached, he said Sporting will take a measured approach to further acquisitions.
“I do think there's a few other players still to be had, but we're not in any rush to make all of those happen,” Vermes said. “We just think we want to be in a position to understand where things are going with the CBA and the different players that will be available come our primary window, which is our winter window. I think we'll be a little patient and calculated with some of those other moves.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
