UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. — The New York Red Bulls have talked at length about adding an attack-minded Designated Player to their roster when the summer transfer window opens.
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It appears that may no longer be the case.
Red Bulls general manager Erik Solér told reporters following Tuesday’s training session that while adding a third DP is still a possibility, it is not set in stone given the club’s needs in multiple areas.
“It’s going to be an ongoing discussion,” Solér told reporters. “The window opens end of June, and we’ll talk until then to see how the team develops and especially what we need short-term and maybe longer term. We might do something short term because we feel the need to do it and something different on the longer term because it might be something we need for in the future.”
Solér admitted the team could opt to sign two players for less as opposed to just one expensive Designated Player this summer, especially given the number of injuries players have suffered this early into the year.
Areas of need include forward and defense, Solér said. Up top, the Red Bulls are currently without leading scorer Thierry Henry and were missing Juan Agudelo until recently because of a knee injury.
In defense, the injuries have been much more frequent. Wilman Conde, Jan Gunnar Solli, Stephen Keel and Roy Miller have all suffered knocks. How fast Conde can recover from his current groin injury is the determining factor as to whether New York add another defender, Solér said.
“We also look at the defensive part still with the young kids that maybe we need another powerhouse,” said Solér. “We’ll see how Conde is doing and then we’ll make some decisions.”
Solér also added that the team has not given up on figuring how to require former Red Bulls and current Lillestrom forward Luke Rodgers, whose visa application was denied by the Department of Homeland Security.
“We’re still monitoring how he’s doing,” said Solér, “how his fitness is doing and thinking about how to get him into the country again.”
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com.
