TUKWILA, Wash. – A string of recent events and lackluster results have raised suspicion in Seattle that Freddie Ljungberg may be on his way out just one year after he became the club’s first Designated Player.
Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer confirmed Monday that Ljungberg is not off-limits to ongoing conversations with interested clubs, and that the team’s struggles in the standings this season have warranted a possible change in the team makeup.
“Our team isn’t performing the way we want our team to perform,” Hanauer told MLSsoccer.com. “Our conversations about player transactions are not unique to Freddie, and we have been and will continue to have conversations at home and abroad that we think have the opportunity to make us a better team.”
The summer transfer window opens Thursday. Ljungberg’s two-year deal expires after this season.
“Obviously it’s a time for rumors … but of course, this is a time of year when we’re looking to make our team better,” Hanauer said.
Ljungberg, 33, missed Seattle’s 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on Sunday at Qwest Field with a reported ankle injury, but the midfielder practiced on Monday and did not appear to show any symptoms of the knock that kept him out of the match.
Ljungberg’s absence on Sunday coincided with a noticeable shift in Seattle’s starting lineup, with several veterans making way for youngsters. After the match, it was noted that Ljungberg’s locker at Qwest Field had been moved to the far wall, with 19-year-old Miguel Montaño now occupying his space.
When asked about his future on Monday, Ljungberg was non-committal, but did not close the door on any rumors.
“We’ll see what happens,” Ljungberg said. “It’s the transfer window and my contract is up in November. We will see what happens.”
Hanauer admitted that Sounders coach Sigi Schmid is actively trying to adjust his lineup with players already within the club, but that making further changes is not out of the question.
“Mostly we want to focus on the group we have, but if we can tweak things, that helps the chemistry, the performance, the energy and all different aspects,” Hanauer said.
Ljungberg trained with the reserves Monday and looked sharp in training, scoring in a scrimmage. Both he and Schmid said they would wait to make any determinations about Ljungberg’s availability for Thursday’s match against D.C. United.
Ljungberg’s numbers have dropped dramatically since his debut season in 2009, when he piloted the Sounders to the Western Conference playoffs with two goals and nine assists in 22 appearances with the club.
He has three assists and has yet to score in 15 games this season, while the Sounders have limped to a 4-8-4 record and sixth-place spot in the Western Conference standings.
The midfielder also missed the first week of training camp this season, drawing criticism from team captain Kasey Keller.
However, in an interview with the UK’s Daily Mail earlier this season, Ljungberg expressed gratitude to Seattle’s medical staff for solving his persistent hamstring problems and allowing him to extend his career. After training Monday, he restated his affinity for living in Seattle, where he lives in a lakefront home on Lake Washington.
