The New York Times' Jack Bell talks with Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who is headed to South America on a scouting trip. "I can tell you that we have already found the players we need, but there are restrictions because of the salary cap," the Colombian said. "I am looking for a central defender, hopefully left-footed. I'm also looking for a wide midfielder, also left-footed, and we're trying to squeeze in a playmaker."
One of them comes from the French league, Osorio said. Bell thinks that that man is Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Marcelo Gallardo, who's been linked to MLS over the last few days. The 32-year-old Gallardo recently terminated his contract with PSG and is being pursued by Borussia Dortmund of the German Bundesliga and San Lorenzo of his native Argentina. However, agent Juan Berros told Goal.com the Argentine was more interested in a move to MLS.
Gallardo would come at a hefty price, though: Gallardo is likely to command a salary of about $1 million per year, says Bell, which means the Red Bulls would have to sign him as one of their two designated players. It would also mean either trading or buying out Claudio Reyna's contract, which has another season left on it.
"The money is frustrating, but I understand that this is all part of it," Osorio said. "Hopefully I will be here long enough to see an increase in the salary cap that will allow us to go and look in different markets to help bring the level of M.L.S. higher."
No comments yet.
