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Seattle Sounders: Off-season moves, CCL, and a new signing

By Nathan Reynolds

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 30: Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer hoists the championship trophy after the second leg of the MLS Western Conference Finals against the Houston Dynamo at CenturyLink Field on November 30, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Sounder won the match 3-0 and aggregate score 5-0 to advance to their second consecutive MLS Cup. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 30: Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer hoists the championship trophy after the second leg of the MLS Western Conference Finals against the Houston Dynamo at CenturyLink Field on November 30, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Sounder won the match 3-0 and aggregate score 5-0 to advance to their second consecutive MLS Cup. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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Two MLS Cup appearances, including claiming the 2016 title, has pushed the Seattle Sounders to new heights. Now the focus shifts to 2018 and the CCL.

The Seattle Sounders franchise has been a success story since making its MLS debut in 2009. The club has never missed the MLS Playoffs and has boasted over 40,000 fans at home matches for years. However, the 2016 & 17 seasons finally saw the club produce the late-season results to match their ambition and fan support.

But the off-season is short. Thus the Sounders are already busy making moves to improve a strong squad and seek a second MLS Cup in three years. Here’s a look at some of the deals made early on in the window and the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League action.

Two out the exit door

Prolific left-back Joevin Jones went to Darmstadt on a free transfer, after signing a pre-contract over the summer. Jones served the club well (including 11 assists in 2017), but the club was able to use the second half of the season to get game action for his replacement, Nouhou. He will compete with Waylon Francis from the Columbus Crew, whom the Sounders picked up in December.

The LA FC expansion draft brought drama and a loss for Seattle. The Sounders left Designated Player Ozzie Alonso unprotected, a move he was quick to take to Twitter to express his frustration. However, the expansion side ended up moving instead for backup keeper Tyler Miller.

Playing mostly for Sounders 2, Miller will now get a chance to compete for the top spot in nets for LA FC. Speaking to the media afterward, GM Garth Lagerwey indicated that Seattle had anticipated the loss.

The Deuce is back & a new HGP

Lagerwey confirmed that DP Clint Dempsey will return on a one-year extension after reworking his contract with the club. Dempsey earned MLS Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 and was the Sounders best player during the playoff run.

This past week the Sounders announced the signing of their 10th Home Grown Player – Handwalla Bwana. A standout at the University of Washington, he joins the likes of DeAndre Yedlina and Jordan Morris to move up from the academy setup.

A versatile attacker, Bwana, will likely spend 2018 playing for Sounders 2 in a central offensive, number 10 role. However, given the past few seasons, it is fair to expect him to earn a few senior team appearances, on the wing, much like fellow HGP Henry Wingo did in 2017.

TAM, CCL and The Future

The Sounders begin the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League campaign on February 22nd against Santa Tecla from El Salvador. With the increase in TAM (yet again) and the need for depth across an early start to the year, the front office expects to add more depth across the board.

The club needs one additional central defender, even if they plan to move Gustav Svensson there again throughout the year. Tony Alfaro is the only CB under 30.

Lagerwey has made it clear that they expect to continue signing more homegrown players in the years to come, and that the upcoming talent levels are even higher than what the club has produced recently. One name that jumps to the top of the list is Indiana University goalkeeper and Sounders academy product, Trey Muse.

He helped lead Indiana to the NCAA final in 2017, falling short to Stanford. Trey is seen as having a very high ceiling and could end up being the successor to Stefan Frei in the years to come.

Next: BREAKING: Landon Donovan signs with Club Leon of Liga MX

Even after two MLS Cup appearances, the Sounders have yet to see Loderio, Morris, and Dempsey all playing well together through a lengthy run. Injuries and dips in form, mean that Seattle hasn’t hit their ceiling. Which should prove to be an achievable and entertaining goal in 2018.

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