Flaming out after their hot start to the 2017 MLS Season, the Chicago Fire are looking to re-build and re-tool for 2018 with some impressive names.
The Chicago Fire made waves in 2017 as the club opted to bring in Bastian Schweinsteiger on a Designated Player deal. While the signed of the former German National Team captain was initially met with disbelief thanks to Schweinsteiger’s age, his lack of playing time coming from Manchester United, and the previous acquisitions of midfielders Dax McCarty and Juninho. However, Schweinsteiger adapted quickly to MLS play and led the fire from a league-lowest 31 point finish in 2016 to a third-highest 55 points in 2017. Schweinsteiger’s success was also a benefit to fellow Designated Player newcomer, Nemanja Nikolic, who would score 24 goals for Chicago, making him the 2017 MLS Golden Boot winner.
Chicago is now looking to re-tool, and have linked with two FC Porto players, Iker Casillas and Juan Quintero. Casillas, similar to Schweinsteiger, is in the later stages of his professional career and leading both his national team as a captain along with playing for some of the most notable clubs around the world. His age is less relevant as a goalkeeper, a position in which the Fire struggled last season, especially if rumors are to be true that Casillas would be signed without using a Designated Player spot.
#MLS sources telling me Chicago Fire are in negotiations with Iker Casillas. #cf97 aiming to sign the Spanish GK to a non-DP deal. The Fire are believed to hold his discovery rights.
— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) December 21, 2017
Juan Quintero follows the more recent MLS transfer trends of being a young, promising, South American player. Most recently, the youngster was sent from FC Porto on loan to Independiente Medellin in his native Columbia. At 24-years-old, Quintero is the type of player the Fire could build around as they attempt to keep up with Atlanta United, NYCFC, and Toronto FC. Quintero also plays as an attacking midfielder, where the Fire deployed Schweinsteiger last season, and would allow the veteran to play deeper in the midfield in his more natural role.
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That is assuming Schweinsteiger is still with the Fire for next season. Reports have surfaced that he has multiple offers to return to Germany following his stellar MLS season, but the Fire are also still in negotiations for another year of his services.