3 realistic signings that would make sense for Minnesota United FC to add to their MLS roster before opening day.
Over the past few months, members of Minnesota United’s coaching staff have made scouting trips to Scandinavia, and South and Central America, mainly Argentina, Costa Rica, Norway, and Sweden. Here are 3 realistic targets, based on those scouting trips.
Josh Gatt
Video: Josh Gatt discusses return to the field following lengthy injury layoff - https://t.co/YFsIHcFVod #USMNT pic.twitter.com/NoXTOCD8qu
— SBI Soccer (@SBISoccer) September 12, 2016
The speedy American winger would be a great addition to Minnesota. The US international would add impressive pace to the Loons Starting XI, and would slot in nicely on the left wing, opposite Miguel Ibarra. Gatt, who currently plays for Norwegian club FK Molde, has been out for most of the last 2 years with various injuries, but is currently healthy, and starts for Molde on most occasions. His injury history certainly presents a risk for the Loons, and would be a very high-risk, high reward pickup for Minnesota, because when healthy, he’s something for MLS backlines to fear.
Lucas Janson
Lucas Janson is a young striker who currently plays for FC Tigre in the Argentinian Premiera Division (a team which Lagos and Heath scouted last month). The 22 year old has somewhat struggled for playing time in Argentina, having only 31 league appearances to his name in his 3 seasons with the club. However, he has a lot of potential, and has a chance to succeed in MLS if given consistent playing time. He’d probably the a backup in Minnesota right away, but could be a worthwhile project for Manny Lagos and Adrian Heath to take on.
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Mahatma Otoo
Football fans call for the inclusion of Mahatma Otoo in Black Stars https://t.co/L4XhZFFAO5 pic.twitter.com/j3fzsQ9K6q
— Social Watch Africa-SoWA (@SoWAorg) November 1, 2016
Otoo is a Ghanaian striker who last played for Norwegian club Sogndal, but as of last week, his contract has expired. Sogndal is a club that sporting director Manny Lagos scouted while he was in Norway over the summer, and the fact that Otoo would come on a free could make it a very enticing option for Minnesota. The Ghanaian international Otoo is a very pacey player, and over the last couple of seasons had made a name for himself as one of the Tippeligaen’s most explosive and dangerous players. Otoo could thrive in Adrian Heath’s fast-paced, attacking style of play, but it will all come down to how much the coaching staff believes that Christian Ramirez will succeed in MLS, because with Ramirez already there, and top prospect Jeremy Ebobisse expected to come in next week, this move would make things a bit crowded up front.
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