The 5 most intriguing MLS moves ahead of the 2017 season

The 2017 Major League Soccer season is finally upon us, with North America’s top flight moving into the third phase of his history by welcoming Atlanta United and Minnesota United as expansion franchises.  

MLS, from this point on, will embark on an expansion drive, with the league to consist of 28 teams by 2020. It’s an exciting time to be a North American football fan, and the 2017 campaign promises to be as captivating as any that have come before. 

As far as big name signings, there isn’t a David Beckham or Sebastian Giovinco to speak of this year, but a number of intriguing transfers have been made. Here are five of the best moves ahead of the new season. 

Miguel Almiron - Atlanta United 

They have a brand new, state of the art stadium, a $60m training facility, a former Barcelona and Argentina manager as their head coach and a squad packed with MLS and international experience - Atlanta United have made waves before they have even played a competitive game. 

The ripples of their MLS-record move for Paraguayan international Miguel Almiron are still being felt. At just 23, he is the embodiment of Atlanta’s ethos of targeting players who still have their best years ahead of them and will be the star man for Tata Martino’s side. Almiron was sought by both Arsenal and Chelsea not so long ago, now he is charged with delivering for the most ambitious expansion team in MLS history. 

Fredy Montero - Vancouver Whitecaps 

The Vancouver Whitecaps have needed a top-tier striker for quite some time and they look to have got that in Fredy Montero. The Colombian is a giant of MLS having enjoyed three highly successful years at the Seattle Sounders and will give the Caps the kind of attacking hub they have so desperately lacked in recent years. 

Montero notched nine goals in 29 games for Chinese side Tianjin Teda this season, as well as three goals and three assists in just five Europa League appearances for Sporting last season. The Colombian returns to the Pacific Northwest having bolstered his reputation and will surely be a key figure for the Whitecaps this term. 

Dax McCarty - Chicago Fire 

This was arguably the most surprising move of the MLS off-season. Despite being integral to the New York Red Bulls, not to mention the club captain, Dax McCarty was traded to the Chicago Fire in January, raising the eyebrow of everyone who holds an interest in the league. For the Red Bulls, McCarty will be a great loss, but for the Fire they have found themselves a bedrock upon which to build a team. 

McCarty is a one-man midfield barrier, averaging 2.4 tackles and 2.6 interceptions per game for the Red Bulls last season. He’s also a prolific passer, averaging 63.8 passes per game in 2016, illustrating just how effective he is at recycling possession. These are qualities the Chicago Fire could use as they look to avoid being MLS’ basement boys for a third straight season. 

Romain Alessandrini - LA Galaxy 

The LA Galaxy had cash to spend this off-season following the exit of Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan at the end of last season, and they used some of it to sign Romain Alessandrini from Marseille. The 27-year-old has spent his entire career up until now in France and brings a certain international pedigree to Carson. 

The attacking midfielder was something of a peripheral figure for Marseille this season before making the move to MLS, but Alessandrini is an inherently productive player. He recorded five goals and four assists from just 16 Ligue 1 starts last season, and with Gerrard, Keane and Donovan all gone the Galaxy will need some of that productivity this season. 

Gustav Svensson - Seattle Sounders 

For the first time in their history the Seattle Sounders have a MLS championship to defend. They have managed to keep the core of their side together over the off-season, with the signing of Swedish international Gustav Svensson their most compelling addition. 

Signed from Guangzhou R&F, the defensive midfielder thrives on the rough and ready side of the game, making him a perfect fit for MLS. Along with Osvaldo Alonso, who averaged 3.8 tackles per game last season, the Sounders will have arguably the most formidable midfield platform in the league.