Ranking Five Potential FC Dallas DP Free Agents
One of the concerns I had with Dallas signing Santi Moreno was using a Designated Player spot. It felt like a bad allocation of resources for a club that needed another big time player. With the looming World Cup and a bevvy of free agents coming available, using that mechanism on Moreno felt short-sighted.
So far, Moreno has proven worthy of his loan displaying skill and acumen worthy above his teammates. Meanwhile it's known that Dallas has the flexibility to sign another DP despite Moreno's arrival should they desire. That means Dallas could have Moreno, Petar Musa, and a third high end talent going into August and beyond.
Who would fit the bill? Dallas I'm sure has a group of players on their board that they're monitoring. Based off recent successful transfers, they're likely in a lower European divsion or somewhere in South America. Chief Soccer Officer Andre Zanotta is on a strong run starting with Musa, continuing with Christian Cappis and Ramiro, and now Moreno this year among others across the last 24 months. The trust in Zanotta's acumen should be at an all time high.
While the front office thinks within the realm of reason, there's no reason I must. Let's look at some of those large names that could put Dallas over the top towards MLS Cup contender status. We'll examine their fit in Frisco, as well as their likelihood of making Toyota Stadium their next home.
Mohamed Salah, RW, Liverpool
The biggest name available this summer, Salah is moving on from Anfield after almost a decade on Merseyside. An iconic scorer for both club and country, it's hard to imagine Salah wouldn't improve any team he joins but especially a MLS squad. Should he arrive on American shores, Salah would immediately become a top three player alongside Lionel Messi and Heung-min Son.
Salah has been linked to San Diego FC, in large part due to his shared nationality with the club's Egyptian owners. The Saudi Pro League has also been hot after Salah's signature, hoping to make him their biggest signing since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr. Despite the Public Investment Fund's(Saudi Arabia's pseudo slush fund) recent liquidity concerns, betting markets still consider the SPL Salah's most likely home. Should the Kingdom remain cash conscious, America could be where Salah lands.
Even if MLS lands the Egyptian superstar, Salah swapping Liverpool red for FC Dallas red seems remote. Salah would command several millions in salary, which isn't normally in the Hunt's playbook. I'm also unsure Salah would be up for the high pressing, high effort style Eric Quill demands of his charges. If there was an exception to the rule, someone of Salah's talents would be such. His playmaking and scoring would turn Dallas into instant MLS Cup contenders. There's just no reasonable path forward where Salah plays in Frisco. I'll be happy to be wrong if he's holding the DNA kit in a couple months. I'm just not counting on it.
Bernardo Silva, MF, Manchester City
If I could place one free agent on Dallas' squad, Silva would be my choice. He has everything Dallas needs: he's left footed, versatile, an elite playmaker who can score, and would be the midfielder for which Dallas has long been searching. He'd be a great fit for Quill's style, bringing pedigree and leadership at just 31 years old. He wouldn't be a legacy signing; Silva is still in his prime.
At the moment reporting has Silva returning to his native Portugal, with Benfica leading the race. It makes sense; Silva came out of Benfica's academy making his pro debut for the first team at 19. Having won everything he could with Man City, returning home to a club that consistently wins their league while playing in the Champions League makes all the sense.
That all said, there's just enough of a cracked door here allowing me to dream on Silva coming to Texas. Dallas can be competitive with Benfica wage and stature wise, even if they lack location and history. If Silva seeks a new challenge, leading Dallas to a title and CONCACAF Champions Cup status would represent new horizons not yet met.
While more likely than Salah, this one still feels single digits percentage wise. Dallas should do everything they can to sign Silva, but that doesn't mean you should start ordering your #20 kits anytime soon. This is a pipe dream.
Casemiro, DM, Manchester United
Now for something totally different in midfield. What Silva has in playmaking Casemiro has in aggression. A patrolling destroyer in the pitch's back half, the Brazilian would offer no quarter to MLS opponents. That level of physicality is rarely seen in the league, and would instantly change the tone of whichever team he joins.
Two MLS teams are already rumored to be in on Casemiro: the LA Galaxy and Inter Miami. As it stands now both would have to do some pretty impressive roster mechanics to get Casemiro in the boat. Miami has made that an art form recently, while the Galaxy are reportedly on FIFA's Registration Ban list now. Those clubs fit the profile better: big market clubs with deep pockets and in Miami's case superstars all around.
While Casemiro in Frisco sounds interesting in theory, and he'd be an immediate starter, I don't believe this to be the best stylistic fit for the club. Casemiro's physicality could be a liability in MLS, and at 34 there's questions about what he has left in his legs. As a free agent no transfer fee would be involved, but I'm unsure that this is the best direction to take for the Burn. Their midfield woes would be better solved with playmaking and skill, and while Casemiro can do that it's not his top-line asset. This has more risk than reward written all over it, and Dallas should keep it moving on this potential signing.
Andy Robertson, LB, Liverpool
If Silva's my #1 choice for Dallas, Robertson is #1A.
Bringing in the Scotsman would solve so many of Dallas' left sided defensive issues. While he's played traditional left back at Anfield, there's minimal reason to think he couldn't handle left wing back in MLS. If he couldn't, Dallas could move him to left back in a four man backline. Shaq Moore, Osaze Urhoghide, Nolan Norris, and Robertson across the back would be just lovely.
Robertson is a natural fit for Quill's style, being a high effort player who was once quoted as saying "I've worked my bollocks off to get where I am, and by doing that, I've been able to make the most of whatever talent I have." That sounds like a Quill player straight out the mold. His leadership qualities and max effort playing style would raise the squad level immediately.
The question becomes whether he could be lured to Frisco. Tottenham (should they remain in the EPL) and Fenerbache have both been linked to Robertson as he departs Liverpool this summer. Those are big time European clubs who Dallas would struggle to compete with finance and stature wise. However at 32 if Robertson is looking to wind down yet still compete, Frisco might be a good landing place.
Maybe I'm just trying to force it because I really want Robertson in Frisco. He'd be perfect if Dallas wanted to re-enforce their defense.
Luka Modric, MF, AC Milan
There's one specific reason Modric is on this list, I'll get there in a second. Not unlike Silva, Modric is another well regarded European based playmaking midfielder. He's been all over the world, finding great success at Spanish giant Real Madrid along with the Croatian national team.
Modric's biggest concern: age. He's turning 41 in September, which boggles the mind considering he's made 33 appearances for AC Milan this campaign. A seemingly ageless wonder is Croatia's midfield magician, but everyone has a clock. Whether Modric's is about to come up will loom in the mind of any team that signs him.
Should Modric have gas left in the tank, his age might push him to a MLS club. They might be willing to take a gamble on the name and previous experience, because at his best Modric is an incredible midfielder. Dallas in specific needs a playmaking midfielder, and they've got a secret weapon in recruitment.
Enter Petar Musa.
Dallas' top player is all but certain to join the Croatian national team for this summer's World Cup. Modric is expected to be there too despite a broken cheekbone recently suffered. Musa could not only act as scout but recruiter to sell Modric on the virtues of playing in Frisco. It'd be a huge coup if Musa could sell a still viable Modric to don the red and blue of Dallas.
Despite the many ifs involved here, it's an option worth exploring. Even if Dallas got one good season out of Modric, it might be worth it from a financial standpoint. Imagine the jersey sales, altough Modric's traditional 14 is occupied by Herman Johansson (I bet they can work something out). If Modric could produce even a third of his peak in Dallas colors, all the better.
