Three MLS Players FC Dallas Should Target This Summer
FC Dallas made their first move of the summer last Thursday, acquiring goalkeeper Daniel from the San Jose Earthquakes for up to $1,000,000 General Allocation Money (GAM). It's expected that when Dallas resumes play on July 22nd in Portland, the 32 year old Brazilian will be the starting keeper
Sam Hale
Just as important as buttressing a position of need, Dallas showed that they could exploit a surplus within the league to improve their own squad. That's something Andre Zanotta should continue to do this summer as the club pushes for a playoff berth. With the secondary transfer window opening today, let's look at three Major League Soccer players Dallas should target in service of squad improvement.
Martin Ojeda, Orlando City
If Dallas wants to get hyper aggressive in improving their attack, it's time to swing big on another Designated Player. Ojeda has 37 goals and 25 assists in his three plus seasons with Orlando, including 11 goals in 2026.
Ojeda's numbers are electric, and they fit what Dallas needs up top alongside Petar Musa: someone who can shoot as well as pass. It'd give Dallas another way to connect the lines, which has been one of the consistent struggles of the team's offensive plans. It also gives Dallas flexibility when it comes to structuring their forwards. Musa, Logan Farrington, and even rookie striker Nicholas Simmonds could play next to Ojeda.
A pair of questions linger for Ojeda, with the first being style. Eric Quill asks a lot of his players on defense and effort, more than most coaches. Ojeda has the attacking qualities, but what would determine success in Frisco is if he bought into the system. Without asking him it's hard to say, but at minimum it's a question worth asking.
On the flip side the financials on Ojeda make this transaction more difficult. Ojeda is a Designated Player for Orlando, making just under $1.8 million. He's eligible to be bought down to a TAM player using allocation money, which Orlando is expected to do with French legend Antoine Griezmann arriving. Should Dallas be able to pry Ojeda away from Orlando, they could keep him as a DP or buy him down. Either way, it'd be a little more difficult.
Orlando sits 25th in the MLS table right now, with 14 points in 15 matches and one coach already fired. Griezmann's acquisition should boost ticket sales, but it won't be enough to right the sinking ship. Orlando should be looking at the future, trying to clear decks for the next coach this winter. Ojeda doesn't fit Orlando's timeline, but he does fit Dallas'.
As such Zanotta should keep calling until Orlando shuts the door and bolts it behind them. Make them block every area code in the DFW area. The upside on Ojeda is that big, and his fit in the Dallas offense would be that impactful. Never hurts to try.
Marcel Hartel, St. Louis City SC
Another high end Designated Player in a tough situation, Hartel is a quality middle of the pitch player who instantly becomes the team's best creator. While he hasn't scored much in his MLS career (15 goals in 55 games), his underlying numbers are impressive:
This would be another attempt to give Musa a creative running mate who could also play in the pitch's center when called upon. With Dallas still in search of the #10 of their dreams, Hartel could be the answer.
At the break St. Louis is four points out of a playoff spot, six out of a non play-in place. Their table position isn't reflective of their general situation which is a club in flux. New coach Yoann Damet and sporting director Corey Wray are in progress fixing a roster that lacked cohesion under the previous admin. Hartel is 30 going on 31, occupying a premium roster space for a team still unsure of their heading.
Moving Hartel onto a team with a defined identity, who has room for a Designated Player (Hartel makes $2.4M as a DP for St. Louis), and can contend right now makes sense for all parties. It's unclear what Hartel would cost to acquire, but there is a snag on Dallas' end. Hartel requires an international spot, something Dallas doesn't have right now.
The club would either need to acquire another spot or rid the current roster of a player occupying one. The latter makes more sense; spots by themselves cost anywhere from $350-400k GAM. Removing a senior international from Dallas' roster would be the cleanest way to open a spot for Hartel, even if it might mean some roster gymnastics.
Like Ojeda, Hartel is a win now piece for a team that has an opportunity to maximize a window. If they can build success now ahead of the stadium renovation finishing, the calendar flip, and off this momentum the World Cup has created it's worth taking big swings. This isn't the time for conversation, but for boldness.
Prince Owusu, CF Montreal
Montreal remains the Springfield Tire Fire of MLS: ever burning, never changing, a constant environmental disaster. With twice as many losses as wins so far in 2026, the Saputo owned club is once again without a full time coach or any tangible direction
Good players don't last in Quebec unfortunately, and Dallas should pounce on the Ghanian born Owusu who has nine goals and six assists for the former Impact this season. That's coming off a 13 goal, three assist campaign in 2025 where Montreal finished 29th out of 30 teams. Owusu is languishing north of the border, and is crying out to be acquired by an actual club.
Another big body striker for Dallas at 6-3, Owusu could create a Skyscrapers effect with Musa. Let Owusu receive the ball, be it from midfield or over the top, and do the hold up play that allows for Musa to get forward. Or the other way around where Musa feeds Owusu then makes an overlapping run. There's a lot of options for how to use the two, and that's the design. Having two dangerous strikers means havoc for opposing defenders, who then have to worry about Farrington and Sam Sarver lurking on the bench.
Owusu would also need an international spot like Hartel, but unlike Hartel and Ojeda he's already a TAM player. His salary is $1.33 million, but Montreal bought him down to a cap hit just over $800k. That'd be a nicer fit for the Dallas cap sheet, even if they'd still need to do some magic to make the fit happen. If it means a high end playoff spot and silverware for the first time in a decade, it's a small price to pay.
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