Atlanta United: Analyzing the Brooks Lennon signing

Atlanta United announced their first signing, a trade for Brooks Lennon, ahead of the 2020 MLS season. What does this addition mean for the team?

Atlanta United have a new face along the right flank. This week, the Five Stripes acquired Brooks Lennon, a U.S. Youth International that spent time with Liverpool’s U23 team as a teenager. More recently, Lennon played with the Real Salt Lake first team for the last three seasons, making 86 appearances out of a possible 102.

Lennon can play multiple positions along the right side of the pitch. He began his playing career as a winger, but RSL head coach Mike Petke switched Lennon to right-back ahead of the 2018 season. Because of his capabilities in both defense and in attack, Lennon makes for a solid option at right wing-back in addition to right-winger and right-back.

Atlanta United sent £150,000 in Target Allocation Money and General Allocation Money respectively to RSL to acquire Lennon, but at just 22 years old, Lennon can serve a multitude of roles for many years to come with the Five Stripes.

So, with Lennon officially in the fold for the coming season, what might Frank de Boer’s plans be for the versatile right-sided starlet?

Initially, this signing looks like an addition to the squad depth. Besides Julian Gressel and Franco Escobar, the team is quite thin along the right side of their preferred formation, a 3-5-2. In his two seasons with the team so far, Escobar has battled injuries frequently, while Gressel has played more minutes than anyone over the last three years. Having Lennon on the roster helps with both injury cover and squad rotation.

There is also the possibility of Lennon playing left-back, another position of extreme need. After declining the contracts of Justin Meram and Florentin Pogba, the only clear option on the left side is George Bello. Bello, who is just 17 years old, made three appearances in 2018 but missed all of the 2019 MLS season with a groin injury. For now, Lennon could provide another option on that flank, although the team is expected to bolster the left side as the offseason progresses.

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Some fans have voiced their anxiety over the signing, as some believe Lennon is intended as a like-for-like replacement for Gressel. This is certainly a possibility, although the front office picked up Gressel’s option for this season so, for now, he is with the team. The front office has repeatedly stated Gressel is a priority for the team, but the midfielder could hold out during the preseason as he waits for a new contract. If this is the case, Lennon could play in place of Gressel, should the latter miss significant time.

Gressel and Lennon could also share the field together, if that’s what de Boer wants (and Gressel gets his contract situation sorted out). If de Boer rates Lennon enough for the wing-back position, Lennon could play there while Gressel moves into central midfield. Gressel already revealed that he is willing to play in place of Darlington Nagbe, who was recently traded to Columbus Crew, and he has the rare combination of technical skill, rounded athletic profile and tactical acumen to play as a box-to-box, press-resistant midfielder.

Regardless of the front office’s plan for Gressel, the signing of Lennon is a savvy one. For just $300,000, he can provide a lot of help for a team that needs depth and squad rotation with the CONCACAF Champions League kicking off in February.

Next. Atlanta United: 2019 MLS season in review. dark

With a change of scenery and the right coaching, Lennon can build on the flashes of talent that led to his stint with Liverpool and become a key part of a winning squad for years to come. That is a very astute signing indeed.

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