BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – When the Fire released Julio Martinez last week, technical director Frank Klopas told MLSsoccer.com that he would bring in a new player to replace the winger.
And according to comments he made on Wednesday, the club is looking to do just that.
Though Klopas didn’t delve into detail about whom he is hoping to sign, he did list the characteristics he’s looking for.
“We’re looking for guys that have some pace and are more dynamic in the midfield,” he said. “We need a little bit more depth at the forward position.
"We have different options. We can bring two midfielders, and we have options with [winger Patrick Nyarko]—maybe push him forward… [Or we could sign] a midfielder that’s dynamic that can play different spots in the middle and then maybe add a forward. We looked at different guys, and we feel good about a couple.”
One player the Fire looked at was Serbian midfielder Bratislav Ristic, who impressed Klopas during a recent two-week trial.
“He’s an experienced player," Klopas said. "He can play different spots in the midfield, and he’s dynamic, technically good and he’s got pace. He can play out wide, and he can play two to three different positions. I thought he did well here, so he’s definitely a guy were looking at.”
A player that likely won’t be signed is Jeremiah White. The American midfielder, whose week-long trial recently ended, apparently entered negotiations with the club but was slightly unrealistic with his contract demands.
“We [saw] him, we talked to the agent and everybody’s got to be realistic with the demands with our league,” Klopas said.
"I think that he’s definitely looking at this league, but also he feels like maybe he [has an] opportunity to be somewhere in Europe. We brought the guy in, we looked at him and we’ll see where that goes.”
