Sounders look to peak in the fall

• by Soccer America , Feb 27, 2013

[MLS SPOTLIGHT] The Seattle Sounders have already replaced one Designated Player -- Fredy Montero was sent on loan to Colombian club Millonarios and Shalrie Joseph was acquired from Chivas USA -- but have only a few days to replace a second -- German Christian Tiffert -- if they want to bring in 28-year-old Nigerian Obafemi Martins from Spanish club Levante.

Seattle has until Saturday to buy out the contract of Tiffert, signed to a DP contract in 2012. If it doesn't, it will have until the summer to move Tiffert and bring in Martins.

Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer said Tuesday afternoon the club was making progress on the Martins' front though he could guarantee everything would be resolved by Saturday.

"Obviously, there is still lots of information out there about Obafemi Martins," he told reporters. "Again, [he's] a player that we are hopefully circling the wagons on and, with a little bit of luck, a player we are able to bring into the organization. Obviously, not quite finished if we are talking about a player of that quality who could be added to the team. But we're getting there."

Seattle won't be at full strength for the start of the season in March when it also must face Tigres of Mexico in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals, but Hanauer is taking a long-term view.

"It would be great to peak and be as strong as we could be through the season," he said, "but if I have to pick one [time to peak] it would be September, October, November, December."