Revs Have “Targeted Three Players At Three Different Positions”

Caleb Porter discusses the Summer Transfer Window.

Photo Courtesy of J. Alexander Dolan

The Summer Transfer Window is open and the New England Revolution have targeted three players at three different positions, according to head coach Caleb Porter.

Of course, there are a lot of factors at play when it comes to getting deals over the line.

“Having been through this, it’s not easy,” Porter said of negotiating transfers. “You come down to the end stages and it’s down to the club, it’s down to the player, it’s down to the money, it’s down to the transfer, it's down to the wages. Obviously in our case, it’s down to the cap as well, which we have a lot of limitations on right now.

“But yeah, we’ve targeted three players at three different positions, and I’m hoping all three we get. Maybe we get two, but I’m hoping we get three.”

Porter didn’t name any specific players or positions, though the club has been linked to 22-year-old winger Luca Langoni and 20-year-old striker Malick Sanogo.

When asked how negotiating with players at the Revolution compares to doing it with other MLS clubs, Porter noted that every situation is different.

“There’s pros and cons to every club,” Porter said. “We’re not going to get ‘the Messi’ to come here. Those type of guys usually go to LA, New York, Miami. That’s just the reality.

“The clubs I’ve been in, very similar cities and markets—Portland, Columbus, here—in terms of we’re going to have to find guys that are a little bit lower profile, but guys that are just as good.

“For me, it’s finding guys that are just as good, maybe don’t have the big name. But you got to work a little harder to find those guys. You got to find guys under rocks and you can’t just go and look for the big name.

“And frankly, I think for us, we want guys that are more in their prime or coming into their prime. In this window specifically, we’re targeting younger guys, guys that are in their prime.

“We feel like with our roster, we have a mature roster. I’ve said it, that’s maybe why we’ve had so many injuries. We’re kind of reaching the end of a cycle for some guys. That’s a reality. We do have some young guys coming through, which is good, but also we need guys in their prime as well. You know, that 25-28 [year-old] range, that’s the prime.

“We have guys that are just past that, who are still very good players, and some young guys who haven’t proven themselves yet, so we need a few more guys that are in their prime.”

The Summer Transfer Window is open until Aug. 14.

MLS is currently taking a break from the regular season to participate in the Leagues Cup. The Revs will host Mazatlan FC on Jul. 27 and Nashville SC on Aug. 6 during the group stage. They will have more games if they advance in the tournament.

The Revolution resume league play on Aug. 24 when they travel to face CF Montreal. The club has eleven games left to secure a spot in the postseason.