As Lorenzo Insigne arrives to Toronto FC, which 3 European stars could next come to Canada?
TORONTO – With eager anticipation of Lorenzo Insigne's imminent arrival to Toronto and to Major League Soccer, which of his European headlining cohorts could be next?
Predicting the next realistic potential blockbuster Designated Player signings for the three Canadian MLS clubs in the near future isn't easy; there are lots of roster rule considerations to keep in mind. But, assuming players can be moved on and the money can be found, here are three players we might one day see playing in Canada.
Toronto FC - Kalidou Koulibaly
Toronto FC's (most recent) marquee DP signing Lorenzo Insigne will be eligible to play for the Reds on July 9th, when TFC hosts the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO field.
While the Italian international's arrival will signal a big change and a boost in offence for Toronto FC – he is a superstar by every definition of the word – he won't do much to improve the team's major problems in defending.
With a whopping 29 goals conceded in 50 matches, Toronto FC needs to focus on shoring up their defence, even if players like Alejandro Pozuelo are moved on, and Michael Bradley ages out of central midfield.
This would be an ambitious signing but Toronto could look to Napoli once again for a marquee DP player. While Domenico Criscito has been linked time and time again to the Reds – even posting a goodbye message to Genoa fans this week – perhaps Bill Manning and co. can be even more bold, and look for another option from a familiar place.
Enter Kalidou Koulibaly. The Senegal international has been a monster for Napoli over these past few seasons. Provided he doesn't sign an extension, Koulibaly will be out of contract with the club after the upcoming 2022/23 Serie A season. As such, he would be available on a free transfer next summer. At that point in time, he'd be 32 years of age, but he'd still have a lot to offer.
And, quite frankly, Koulibaly would transform Toronto's defence, likely at the cost of current Toronto FC DP Carlos Salcedo. While the Mexican international should rightly be judged on the entirety of his season once it finishes, the current sample size of his performances haven't been particularly outstanding, and Toronto isn't afraid of making big moves to acquire a potentially higher-priority player.
Maybe Lorenzo Insigne could prove to be cheeky middleman in this potential transfer?
Or, perhaps, another of Napoli's stars could be available...
“I haven’t made a decision, I hope to soon, I want to find a nice club.
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) June 14, 2022
I thought I’d stay at Napoli, it’s strange but I haven’t heard from anyone about a renewal”
🗣 Mertens via Sky 🔵👀 pic.twitter.com/vgLiSPMzuw
Whitecaps FC - Manuel Akanji
It's not often that an MLS club opts to use their DP roster spot on a defender.
It has happened in the past, but it's more commonly used on offensively minded players; but in the case of the Whitecaps, it's an option that seems to be a genuinely sound investment based on the club's needs.
Vancouver have fully embraced the three-man backline under head coach Vanni Sartini's tutelage. Given the system, the decision to potentially strengthen the backline makes sense.
One option that should be pursued is Borussia Dortmund centre-back Manuel Akanji. The six-foot-two Swiss international is out of contract next summer, and would be available on a free transfer. There are rumors swirling that several Premier League sides are interested in signing Akanji, but as of right now, there have been no confirmed bids.
🎙 Manuel Akanji:
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) November 23, 2020
“At the moment we’re doing very well together. Personally, things are going well for me and I want to continue to do so on the pitch. The system - whether back three or four - doesn’t matter to me.” pic.twitter.com/jwMvruukmB
If he ends up staying at Dortmund until the expiration of his contract, Vancouver could make a serious push to acquire his signature. His composure and ability to build up passing sequences from the back make him an excellent transfer target for a club that utilizes a back-three system, and the allure of being a star figure in a world class city like Vancouver can also be an attractive pull.
CF Montreal - Antoine Griezmann
CF Montreal are in an interesting position. The team has performed well thus far into the season, but injury absences are beginning to take a toll.
Genuine arguments can be made for bolstering both the team's offence and defence respectively. But, given the team's frustrating lack of goal conversion in recent matches, the future of their forward situation should be addressed first.
This past off-season, MLS veteran Kei Kamara joined the club on an initial one-year contract through 2022, with an option year in 2023. The 37-year-old forward recently moved into a joint-tie for fourth all-time in goals scored in league history. His 133 goals have cemented him into MLS legacy ... but, unfortunately, Kamara seems to be struggling with being able to routinely churn out consistent goal-scoring performances at this stage of his career. His three goals in 19 appearances across all competitions could be improved upon.
If Montreal do choose to make a change up top, there are some interesting forwards that could be available. There's 35-year-old forward Luis Suarez, perhaps the most immediate transfer target that comes to mind. Atletico Madrid have already announced that the striker will be leaving the club at the end of June upon the expiration of his contract. Suarez himself has dropped hints in the past of wanting to play in the MLS as well. The Uruguayan striker may be 35, but he's exactly the type of DP signing that could help elevate Montreal to the next level this season.
But, perhaps Montreal should look at a dark horse transfer candidate – France & loanee Atlético Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann.
The 2018 World Cup champion has also expressed interest in a potential MLS move. In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Griezmann explained that he hopes to move to the MLS once his current contract with Barcelona ends.
Antoine Griezmann: "My contract with Barcelona runs until 2024, and after that I think it will be a good time to go to the United States. I love that country, the culture, the NBA, and the urge to explore guides me. I would love to end my career there." [le figaro] pic.twitter.com/LWY4vo6Hsg
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) June 19, 2021
Even though he explicitly talks about the United States, a move to Montreal makes a lot of sense. His native French language might be more beneficial to him and his family in Montreal versus a Miami for example. Football wise, Griezmann's versatility is well-known. He is one of the most hard-working forwards in world football. His contributions on the scoresheet in addition to his defensive work make him a dream transfer target for CF Montreal.
There's plenty of travelling to be done as well. Griezmann will get lots of chances to watch NBA games in person, as Montreal travels across the U.S., so no worries there.
This transfer is a long shot... but can't be ruled out!
