FC Dallas are in the market for a new Designated Player.
Technical director Fernando Clavijo (above) told reporters during a conference call on Thursday that many decisions about how the 2014 roster will shape up have already been made, including the need to look at new impact players.
“Yes, we are,” Clavijo responded when asked if the club was scouting DP-level talent. “I think there are positions where we need to improve and that’s what we’re looking at.”
Clavijo went on to add that the club still hopes to draw on the incoming coach’s input when it comes to offseason personnel decisions before anything is finalized, giving whoever that may be “an opportunity to put an imprint on the next couple of signings.”
FCD currently have all three Designated Player slots filled with Fabián Castillo, Mauro Díaz and David Ferreira on the books, meaning a move would have to be made before any new DPs could be brought into the fold. Díaz was signed to a multi-year deal in July, Castillo still has three years remaining on his contract and the 34-year-old Ferreira is on a team option for 2014.
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Clavijo and Hunt Sports Group vice president Dan Hunt declined to discuss the contract status of any specific players during the call as they have not yet communicated decisions on option years or new contract offers with those players.
Clavijo did, however, say that outside of two or three new signings, they don’t expect to make wholesale changes to a team that finished eighth in the Western Conference and seven points out of a playoff slot.
“We were in first place for about three months, it is a very good roster,” explained Hunt. “Obviously the finish was a disappointment, but something that stood out in every one of our interviews from the coaching candidates is they have been thrilled with the roster. …
"This isn’t a situation with a coach coming in where they’re going to have to strip down a team, purge the players and start over.”
