Just when you thought silly season was over, it just pulls you right back in.
Although the MLS summer transfer window closed on Wednesday, Atlanta United can still sign free agents until rosters freeze on Sept 13. Given that the club traded with Austin FC for an international slot, it seems likely that the club will make an addition during this period.
But which free agents might be on the Five Stripes’ radar? Let’s dive into some options.
Ivan Cavaleiro – LW
Estimated Value: $2.2 million
Remember what Xande Silva was like when he first got to Atlanta? Eye-catching skill and able to pose a serious threat on the flank? Ivan Cavaleiro has all of that and more.
The 30-year-old Portuguese winger is more than capable of taking on defenders and finishes very well with his right foot. Although he has struggled to consistently produce in Europe over the past few seasons, a new chapter in MLS could be just the spark he needs.
Cavaleiro has a rich experience of playing in Europe’s top leagues. His resume includes stints at Lille, Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Monaco and Benfica. He also has two caps for the Portuguese national team.
Another great attribute of Cavaleiro is his versatility. He is able to play anywhere across the front three and has even played as an attacking midfielder on a couple of occasions.
Mohamed Konaté – ST
Estimated value: $3.3 million
Atlanta United was connected to a striker near the end of the transfer window, and if it wants to sign one in free agency, Mohamed Konaté would be a decent shout.
The 26-year-old has spent his entire senior career in the Russian Premier League where he racked up 50 goals and 12 assists in 176 appearances. Konaté has 28 caps and six goals with Burkina Faso’s national team.
Konaté’s main strength is his timing: the guy just knows the right place to be at the right time: he sees a passing lane opening and makes a run into space, he sees a cross coming in and knows just where to go find it, etc. His awareness is a valuable trait and could be useful in Atlanta’s front three that has sometimes felt a bit disjointed this season. Konaté is also a good penalty taker.
Jérémy Livolant – LW
Estimated value: $1.7 million
It’s Jérémy time!
Yeah, it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. But all goals sound the same in the Benz, and this guy can help with those. Jérémy Livolant, 26, tallied six goals and seven assists across all competitions last season with Girondins de Bordeaux before the club filed for bankruptcy and all player contracts were terminated.
Interestingly enough, Livolant has already played alongside two current Atlanta United players: Stian Gregersen at Bordeaux and Tristan Muyumba at Guingamp.
When watching Livolant play, two things that stand out are his vision for through balls and the technical skill to play those incisive passes. Another thing to note is his long passing, an attribute which can prove useful for a team that wants to play out of the back and draw the opponent’s press like Atlanta United does.
The only apparent issue with Livolant at first glance is be that he can sometimes hold the ball a little too long and may try to sell fouls just a little bit too hard.
Ante Rebic – LW
Estimated value: $2.4 million
Ante Rebic would check a lot of boxes for Atlanta United: he has been a proven goal scorer in two of Europe’s top leagues, he brings a wealth of international experience including starting for Croatia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final and, oh yeah… HE’S A FREE AGENT!!!
At 30 years of age, Rebic still has some good years of soccer left in him. Although he has struggled finding form in Europe for the past few seasons, a new challenge in MLS could be just what the doctor ordered.
What he lacks in pace, Rebic makes up for in technical excellence: he can dribble and he is creative with his passing. Pair that with his instinctive understanding of his teammate’s positioning and you get a player that can help really boost the team’s chance creation. He would be an instant improvement on the left wing and would undoubtedly cook alongside Alexey Miranchuk.
Depending on his salary, Atlanta United could sign Rebic on a non-DP contract. This would mean he could join this season and allow the club to take two open DP slots into the offseason.
Anthony Martial – ST
Estimated value: $11 million
Didn’t think you could get much out of free agency? Think again. Anthony Martial wouldn’t just improve the team, he would put the league on notice that Atlanta United is cooking something HUGE. I mean, if this signing happens, we’re really back, baby. It would be a monumental-
…or maybe not. But let’s go into dreamland for a sec, yeah?
Martial, 28, primarily plays as a striker, but has also played on both wings. Last season, the Frenchman tallied two goals and an assist for Manchester United, a return that fell well below the Red Devils’ expectations and led to the decision to not renew his contract. He has 30 caps and two goals for the French national team.
Martial is a good example of a complete forward. He not only fulfills his main function of scoring goals, but helps set up his teammates in a variety of ways. He can drop back and create space in build-up, he can run onto long balls and his near six foot height can help him win aerial duels. Add to this the experience of a player that has won five titles with Manchester United and you get a player that can take the team’s attack to the next level.
Aside from Tom Bogert raining on our parade, there is at least one other complication to getting Martial’s signature. First, he would almost certainly require a DP slot as he’s likely going to want a hefty salary to play in MLS. Since Atlanta United selected the U22 model for the remainder of the season, it would have to buy down Gregersen from his DP slot so that it can be used on Martial. It has been reported that the club is working with the league to try to figure out how to free that DP slot.
What do you think of these potential targets? Let us know in the comments below.
I would be ecstatic to get Martial.
If anyone can, please explain to me why we had to choose between the “full DP” and the “U22” model? I know we get more GAM funny money by choosing the U22 model, but why can’t we change our mind and not take the money (or pay it back if we have already taken it.)
Because MLS.
Nobody cares anymore…
I care. I mean. It’s been a disappointing run. We still have needs. My life isn’t ended by not winning everything all the time everywhere but I’m hopeful. But just rage quitting is childish.
My point is, this article has been up, what, 3 days? And there’s five comments, two of which, mea culpa, have nothing at all to do with the subject of the article.
And I blame team leadership. Starting with Garth. They’re pissing this away.
Their job is not to acquire players to prod fans into commenting on a blog. It is to find the right players at a cost that does not undermine their ability to find new players into the future.
It’s Aug 22. They have 8 days to get something done if it seems like a good idea. They have zero responsibility to drop PR rumors just to prod the fan base. At the moment, we don’t know if MLS will allow them to buy down Gregerson with their current funding structures, which is the prerequisite for any major free agent acquisition at the DP level.
For heaven’s sake… You’re certainly missing the point. Here, I’ll leave now and you can discuss with the other person commenting here.
This same exact conversation four years ago on dirty South world have had dozens, if not hundreds, of comments and discussions. And I’m not laying blame on the good work of the five people who manage this site.
Obviously Matial would be amazing. But if we get the Croatian I’ll be able to make a lot more games as my wife and her Balkan friends will suddenly be very interested in Atlanta United. If only there were a badass Macedonian free agent striker available…
The first transfer target we heard after Miaranchuk was a 15 mil bid for Steven Bergwijn. They didn’t get him, but that suggests that they are willing to aim high for the right players. Marital is a long shot at best, but there’s no reason but disappointment and cynicism to think he’s not a potential target if they free up Gregerson’s DP slot.
I did research into Konaté and he is a player that I like a lot. Would not mind him at all as a free agent.