The primary MLS transfer window closed on May 8 without the Seattle Sounders making any moves close to the deadline. Considering they have several open roster spots — including two on the senior roster that are still technically counting against the salary cap — it was a little surprising to see so little action.
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said that won’t be the case in the summer window, which opens on July 10.
“There will be players coming,” Schmetzer told reporters following Friday’s training session. “It helps. It always helps having a few more talented players on your team.”
Of course, the Sounders have at least eight more matches to play before reinforcements can even be added and they’re in no position to simply wait. As it stands today, they are mired in 10th place and three points out of the No. 6 playoff spot.
That said, the Sounders’ biggest need is probably to add at least a couple offensive options, preferably a winger and likely another forward. They may also be looking to bolster the defense a bit more.
If they’re looking to make moves even sooner, they could theoretically promote someone from S2. In our most recent ranking of players most likely to make the jump are Ray Saari (CM), David Olsen (forward/mid), Sam Rogers (CB), Francisco Narbon (CM) and Felix Chenkham (forward). Signing any of these players would more likely be about simply adding bodies than seriously changing the equation among starters.
Among the players recently rumored to have interest from MLS, the only one who seems like a potential Sounders target is 24-year-old Uruguayan attacking player Gonzalo Bueno. Currently with Defensor Sporting in the Uruguay Primera Division, Bueno is coming off a season in which he scored six goals in 949 minutes. He’d likely be more of a depth signing than someone who would start right away.