Minnesota United’s behind-the-scenes groundwork for the upcoming primary transfer window is slowly coming to light.
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The Loons are actively working to bring in a left-sided center back and a defensive midfielder during the upcoming window, Jan. 31-April 23.
Some names have trickled out in the past two weeks, and the Pioneer Press can share a few more players MNUFC is legitimately connected with over the last month.
Juan Rodriguez
Age: 19
Position: Center back
Country: Uruguay
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The teenager is a part of Penarol, the top team in Uruguay’s Primera Division, and has been included in youth national teams for one of South America’s most respected pipelines. However, reporter Nicolas Saavedra said Tuesday that Rodriguez is in the sights of Atletico Madrid, a premier side in Spain’s La Liga. If Madrid is actually in the sweepstakes, Minnesota would be considered a long shot.
Lukas Wallner
Age: 21
Position: Center back
Country: Austria
At 6-foot-4, the left-footed Austrian national was a member of Red Bull Salzburg before joining Hannover 96 II, the reserve team for Hannover 96 which plays the third tier of German football. Like for Rodriguez, MNUFC would plan to use MLS’ Under-22 Initiative to bring a youth infusion to the roster. Waller fits that bill.
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Mihaly Kata
Age: 22
Position: Midfielder
County: Hungary
This name might be familiar to diehard Loons fans; he was pursued by the club last summer but a deal didn’t materialize before that window closed. This is another try. He has been with MTK Budapest since he was a teen. In Hungary’s first tier this season, he has played more than 1,400 minutes. The right-footer is also on Hungary’s senior national team.
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Others
MNUFC pursued 25-year-old Paraguayan midfielder Lucas Sanabria this winter, but it appears he is headed to L.A. Galaxy. … Elsewhere, the Loons were after another foreign D-mid, but he is believed to be on his way to Austin FC. … Along with Kata last summer, United was linked to Tomas Rigo, a 22-year-old Slovakian, and Santiago Longo, a 26-year-old Argentine, for its D-mid desires, but those efforts do not appear to have been rekindled so far this winter. … Argentine center back Nicolas Romero, 21, has been connected to Minnesota and it looks like he is one to keep an eye on. U22 would also be an avenue for him. … Ukrainian mid Vladislav Kochergin, 28, also has been tied to the Loons, but there doesn’t appear to be a lot of weight to that report. … MNUFC has a handful of other targets but those have not yet come out, and that potentially includes candidates to help reinforce the attack. Efforts to safeguard negotiations are a factor in trying to keep those names under wraps. … A report out of Panama on Wednesday had the Loons in on 20-year-old left back Jair Modelo. Orlando City and D.C. United also were named. The Panamanian plays at Independiente de La Chorrera, the same club current MNUFC left wingback Joseph Rosales came from in 2021.
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