Atlanta United: Way too early offseason predictions

Atlanta United are in the midst of a two-week break. What better way to pass the time than look way ahead to the offseason. Here are some way too early offseason predictions for the Five Stripes.

This upcoming offseason is going to be a big one for Atlanta United. Some of their top players are expected to be transferred, while other depth players will run out of contract and sign with other teams. The biggest questions will be these: Where are Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron going? Can Atlanta replace them? What are the needs of the team?

Atlanta is going to move some players and they will turn a hefty profit in the process. These moves have been anticipated by the league and fans alike for quite some time now. There have been rumors about Atlanta players transferring to Europe for at least the last eight months, and those rumors are only going increase in volume the sooner the season ends.

One other thing to keep in mind: with Alphonso Davies of the Vancouver Whitecaps being transferred to Bayern Munich for at least $12 million, the price tag for Atlanta’s players will surely go up as the market transfer prices increase. Davies is the new baseline for top talent in MLS, so look for Atlanta’s front office to exploit that.

Time to make some way too early offseason predictions about Atlanta United.

Josef Martinez

It will be surprising if Josef Martinez isn’t moved this offseason. The Venezuelan international leads the league with 26 goals in 24 games, holds the record for most career MLS hat tricks (six), and has scored 45 goals in 44 appearances. That stat line is astonishing, to say the least.

It’s even more impressive when you discover that Martinez’s time in MLS is the first time he’s spent playing center-forward. He’s been extensively used on the wing for previous clubs and with the Venezuelan national team. Thanks to manager Tata Martino, Martinez is now the best striker in MLS and one of the best in North America.

Besides the crazy stats Martinez produces, he has already been the subject of many rumors in the last eight months. Some of those rumors include a transfer to the Premier League and Liga MX, with the Liga MX rumors sprouting up as recently as a month ago.

Atlanta doesn’t want to move Martinez. The front office wants his services for as long as possible. But Martinez has already made his intentions clear and has already played in Itay for Serie A side Torino. There are going to be teams from outside MLS that want Martinez and, if the price is right and Atlanta has a player they think can suffice for Martinez’s absence, then the Five Stripes will end up dealing him.

Prediction: Martinez is transferred to a Premier League side for at least $20 million.