GOALNEWS 2023 NOVEMBER EDITION | Page 31

The MLS Playoffs are in full speed , but the teams are already focused on the 2024 planning . It ’ s an end of the season cleanup , revamp ,... They are shaking the rosters by cutting and adding players , coaches who are going out , and others who received new contract offers from the club .
After a sensational summer , Inter Miami CF have set the stage for roster reinforcements this winter . The biggest headline is the club has formally declined Josef Martínez ' s contract option . Maybe this is to make a way to sign Luis Suárez . The Uruguayan star , was teammates with Lionel Messi , Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba on the legendary FC Barcelona squads in the 2010s . Will Josef , an Atlanta United icon , sign elsewhere in MLS ?
Dixon Arroyo , acquired midseason post Gregory and Jean Mota ' s long-term injuries , is out of contract . But IMCF are in talks about the defensive midfielder possibly returning . Discussions are also ongoing with defender Leandro González Pirez after his loan to Argentine side River Plate ( who hold a purchase option ).
Another wrinkle to watch for : U-22 Initiative winger Emerson Rodríguez is under contract for 2024 , though Liga MX side Santos Laguna ( where he ' s on loan ) have a purchase option .
Expect an update there since summertime signings Facundo Farías , Tomás Avilés and Diego Gómez occupy U-22 slots .— Finland winger , Robert Taylor , who capitalized on Messi ' s arrival , had his contract option picked up . Ditto for homegrown Ian Fray , who ' s recovering from another serious knee injury . Contract Options Exercised ( Oct . 25 )
Ian Fray ( D / M ) Cole Jensen ( GK ) Robbie Robinson ( F ) Ryan Sailor ( D ) Lawson Sunderland ( M ) Robert Taylor ( M / F )
Contract Options Declined ( Oct . 25 ) Josef Martínez ( F ) Jake LaCava ( F )
Out of Contract ( Oct . 25 ) Victor Ulloa ( M )
Ongoing Discussions ( Oct . 25 ) Dixon Arroyo ( M ) Leandro González Pirez ( D )
Rebuilding depth is an early theme of Charlotte FC ’ s offseason after the second-year club declined contract options for six players , including livewire winger McKinze Gaines .
There ’ s a SuperDraft thread across the contract options CLTFC picked up , as striker Patrick Agyemang , midfielder Ben Bender , and defender Andrew Privett are among those returning for 2024 .
Both , midfielder Derrick Jones and forward Justin Meram are out of contract and eligible for free agency . Charlotte remain in talks with Meram , who has over 350 MLS appearances , about a new deal . Jones , for his part , earned nearly 1,900 minutes this year .
With 26 players under contract for next season , Charlotte will look to build off their firstever playoff appearance . And while there ’ s transfer speculation around DP forward Karol Swiderski , the Poland international remains in the Queen City for now .
Contract Options Exercised ( Oct . 30 ) Patrick Agyemang ( F ) Ben Bender ( M ) Hamady Diop ( D ) George Marks ( GK ) Andrew Privett ( D ) Nick Scardina ( M )
Contract Options Declined ( Oct . 30 ) Harrison Afful ( D ) McKinze Gaines ( F ) Chris Hegardt ( M ) Pablo Sisniega ( GK ) Jan Sobocinski ( D ) Adrian Zendejas ( GK )
Out of Contract ( Oct . 30 ) Derrick Jones ( M ) Justin Meram ( F )
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