BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Chicago Fire are ready and willing to make a “significant signing” during the July transfer window, should the right player present himself at the right price.
The team's hot on the heels of a surprise trade which saw center back Ty Harden move to Chicago from the San Jose Earthquakes, with Fire striker Quincy Amarikwa going in the opposite direction. And now, head coach Frank Yallop has confirmed that the club is prepared for more activity to bolster his squad, which currently languishes at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table (4-9-2, 14 points), seven points adrift of a playoff spot.
That recent trade brought in vital defensive reinforcements with cover at center back light. It also freed up some cap space heading into what should be a busy month on and off the field for the Fire, who have five regular season games and a US Open Cup game scheduled for July.
“We’re trying to make the team better and prepare ourselves for the rest of the season,” Yallop told reporters via conference call this week. “There’s never a ton of huge movement once you have a full roster anyway, but we now have some cap space and we could make a significant signing if we need to.”
Speculation on big-name signings with the league has run rampant this week. Rumors have linked Mexican internationals Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Giovani Dos Santos with a move to MLS, with the LA Galaxy and Orlando City believed to be their most likely destinations. However, Chicharito has been linked with the Fire in the past and Yallop admitted there isdefinitely interest in a player of that caliber.
“I don’t know what the numbers would be, but obviously we’d be interested in any player who’s got quality,” Yallop said when asked about interest in the pair. “We have three DPs at the moment. We’re committed to those guys, so something would have to change on that front, but we’re forever looking. But it depends on what the package is, to be honest.”
