The MLS transfer window opens Wednesday, and Austin FC is expected to be active on multiple fronts. We’ll take a look at the top questions for El Tree as it enters a window that will be crucial to making a run over the final 14 games of the season and in the Leagues Cup.
How quickly will the team bring in a new center back?
Austin FC coach Josh Wolff has said over the last couple of weeks that the club will definitely be adding a center back, but don’t be surprised if El Tree already has something lined up and announces a player as soon as Wednesday morning.
The team is dangerously thin at center back with the expiration of Aleksandar Radovanovic’s loan, leaving Kipp Keller as the only other player at the position behind starters Julio Cascante and Alex Ring.
It’s also a strong possibility that the club brings in more than one player at the position, which leads us to our next question. …
Will Alex Ring still be with the club in three weeks?
As noted in this space before, Wolff has been oddly vague when speaking about Ring recently.
He noted that, “outside of a few untouchables,” anyone on the roster could be a candidate to be moved if it’s in the best interest of the club and declined to say that Ring has not asked for a move.
Ring has refused to meet with the media this year, lost his captaincy in the offseason, is entering the twilight of his career at the age of 32, carries a hefty $1.6 million salary and only has club options left on his contract.
Austin FC could probably get $250,000 for Ring from a club in Europe to avoid losing him in the offseason for free after declining his contract option.
However, Ring has also been one of the club’s top players this year, and it would be a big loss from a roster standpoint if he returns to Europe.
It’s a tough decision Wolff, ownership and new sporting director Rodolfo Borrell will have to make, but if Ring does leave the club, expect El Tree to have two new center backs before the end of August.
Does the team add help at forward?
Moussa Djitté’s loan to French club AC Ajaccio expired on June 30, but he was loaned out Monday to Turkish side Bandirmaspor through May.
This isn’t a surprise as Djitté’s desire is to remain in Europe to stay close to his family.
However, El Tree adding another striker on a short-term loan seems like a possibility if there’s room in the salary cap.
After a slow start, current starter Gyasi Zardes has produced five goals since May 17, but he’s still inconsistent in performances in the run of play.
All three of Austin FC’s strikers are north of 31, so adding a younger, faster option wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Will Owen Wolff or Dani Pereira be sold?
Both young players are costing Austin FC next to nothing as combined they make less than $225,000, and both seemingly could fetch at least $2 million — and likely much more — from a club overseas.
Netherlands power PSV Eindhoven has been reported to have interest in Owen Wolff since the offseason, and with it and El Tree having a partnership in scouting and other aspects, it would make sense.
But he’s still only 18, and the move to Europe will be a big one in terms of both competition and media attention.
Austin FC could choose to keep him for the remainder of the season, see if he continues his solid form of play and possibly get more money for him in the offseason, when Europe is in the middle of its season.
Pereira seems less likely to be sold based on recent comments from Wolff, although if a deal could be worked out, he would likely bring El Tree a lot of cash.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: MLS transfer window gives Austin FC opportunity to make roster changes