Charlotte FC looks on the way to finalizing a deal to send star forward Patrick Agyemang to Derby County during the upcoming MLS summer transfer window. That means a place on the frontline is back open. It helps that the team also has an open Designated Player spot, meaning they have more room to get a high-value teammate. The team has needed a more reliable front line, and some new talent could also help create better opportunities for younger players to learn.
One player that could bring a lot of buzz to the Queen City would be former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy. He most recently recorded nine goals and four assists with the team and subsequently became a free agent earlier this year. Many teams have considered adding him to their roster, with the most recent being a transfer to Genoa. The deal was officially blocked at the beginning of July by Arsenal legend and current Genoa manager Patrick Vieira, who vetoed the move.
Vardy would be a good choice to replace Ageymang, because of their similar play style. It also helps that he has a personal relationship with manager Dean Smith. There are even reports that Smith reached out to Vardy personally to try to persuade him to move into the MLS. The 38-year-old would be considered an older choice for a new striker, but Charlotte is known for taking on older teammates to help mentor some younger talent. Charlotte isn’t the only club looking to grab some talent from the Premier League. Several Championship and Scottish teams are also vying to sign Vardy.
Callum Wilson is another Premier League alum who could make his way into Charlotte. The Newcastle striker has suffered several injuries, keeping him out of the starting lineup. The introduction of Swedish player Alexander Isak is also keeping him as a secondary choice. Wilson’s move to Charlotte would align well with his interests, as the team already has a strong English presence with Smith as the head coach and Ashley Westwood as the captain. He would also add that veteran presence that is needed to help the front line grow. He’d also work well in a transitional two-striker position, allowing him to team up with Idan Toklomati.
John Kennedy plays for Liga MX team Pachuca and turned heads during the FIFA Club World Cup. Right now, he’s on loan from Fuminense with his contract expected to expire next year. The forward typically plays at the center and is more used to a fluid form of attack. While he’s played as an attacking midfielder, he would be better suited for a front line that has some movement. That could be done with the help of current DPs Wilfred Zaha and Liel Abada. His play could also complement well with Pep Biel, who typically plays an attacking midfielder position and would be able to serve somewhat as a second forward with Kennedy.
All Bundesliga fans know Thomas Müller, and also understand that a push to move him to MLS might be a stretch. The Bayern Munich attacking midfielder is known for his aggressive play and has a fantastic background that would fit perfectly with a DP spot. The World Cup champion has played professionally with Munich for just under 20 years and has been called up by the German National Team dozens of times. He would serve as a perfect attacking presence in the center of the pitch, but could also work as a secondary striker alongside Toklomati.
The news that he was leaving Munich after this year’s Club World Cup wasn’t entirely surprising, but any ambitions he may have moving forward would be ideally suited to the MLS. While he’s also an older player, he would serve Charlotte well as a solid player up front and as a mentor behind the scenes.
Charlotte is in desperate need of some attacking power. With plans to sign away Agyemang continuing to surface, team leaders must prepare for a new setup on the front line. While the teams’ wingers have a lot of experience, the same can’t be said for the current strikers or the depth on the bench. The main issues the team seems to face are a faltering back line and a lack of depth with strikers.
Problems with the back line have some fans calling on the team to look for more defenders during the summer transfer window. While the back line needs some work, most of those problems could be solved with the return of Tim Ream and Nathan Byrne. Ream has been on international duty and is expected to return now that the Club World Cup is finished. Bryne is returning from an injury. If they help fix those issues, a solid striker is all that is needed. Fans will only have to wait a few more weeks, as the transfer window opens on July 24th.
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