It’s time for the second part in our series of asking Garthy Claus for players, and now our wishlist is on midfielders. The Five Stripes desperately need a quality center midfielder, but the rest of the midfield looks set. Santiago Sosa is a guaranteed starter, and absolutely a player to build around, but there’s always the possibility he leaves, and there’s uncertainty behind him. So, let’s dive into our midfield wishlist for Garthy Claus.
Defensive Mids:
Xylph:
Santiago Hezze (Huracan), 21
Hezze is probably one of the best midfielding prospects in Argentina. Hezze is a defensive midfielder with amazing potential. He likes to do everything. He can play the line-breaking balls, he can tackle extremely well and he is very intense, kinda like Alonso. The only downside is that he might be a DP because of his fee. Hezze would probably cost 7-10 million dollars.
Juan Sforza (Newells), 20
Sforza is a holding mid for Newells and plays like Sosa. He’ll probably be the “Sosa” in Heinze’s system this year if he doesn't move. Juan likes to drop back in between the CBs to make it a 3 at the back. Juan also likes to make line-breaking balls while sitting back. Sforza had a 7.13 average rating last year in Liga Professional. Juan would be an amazing Sosa replacement or Ibarra replacement.
Fausto Vera (Corinthians), 22
It's a massive longshot BUT Fausto Vera would be an amazing pickup for Atlanta. Vera is so good defensively, him and Sosa would be a phenomenal pairing. Vera knows how to read the game very well. Whether that be, tackling, intercepting the ball, recovering. Vera was one of the best midfielders in the Brazilian Serie A last year. It would take about 10-12 million to bring him to the Benz.
Zay:
Gustavo Assuncao (FC Famalicão), 22
I’m pretty high on this kid. He’s a strong defender, good passer, can dictate tempo from deep and can dribble. He’s also still 22, but only until March. If Atlanta free up a U22 spot (the only ways this move would make sense is if Sosa leaves, Ibarra leaves and Pineda plans on playing two defensive mids, or Garth manages to fit his salary and fee in and Pineda plays two defensive mids, the last two of which are probably not going to happen), he would be a brilliant Sosa replacement. Authoritative and quality all around, I think he’d be really good for Atlanta. He’s been linked to such clubs as Manchester United in the past, so it may be a stretch, but it’s still a possibility.
Jadsom (RB Bragantino), 21
I will confess, I wasn’t too well acquainted with Jadsom before doing this. He’d been on my radar, but I didn’t know much other than that he would’ve been a good signing. After looking, just a bit at him, he seems to be very good. A strong defender, good on the ball and getting it into wide spaces to open players and seemingly very good going forward, he would be a great pickup. He can play comfortably as a single pivot as well, and be a deep lying playmaker like Sosa is, and, like Assuncao, would be a good replacement if he left.
Center Mids:
Zay:
Liziero (Internacional), 24
He’s another lad I’ve only recently looked into, but he does look very good. He can carry the ball forward, and defensively is aggressive and strong. I really like his physical dominance. He’s not the kind of guy who’s going to be playing line breaking passes or being creative, but he’s a very good player. He would be pricey, however, which may be a turn off for the front office.
Eryk WIlliamson (Portland Timbers), 24
Williamson is one of the best center midfielders in MLS. He’s not an avid passer, but he’s in the 99th(!) percentile in MLS in goal creating actions among center mids. He is also very cheap, having made less than both Matheus Rossetto and Emerson Hyndman. He had a falling out at Portland, and is now a free agent. He's been linked to New England, but per MLSoccer.com’s Tom Bogert, these rumors are blatantly untrue. Being able to have a proven midfielder who can be elite in his position would do a lot for this team, and for his cheapness, I’d definitely take him.
Christian Rivera (Tijuana), 26
I really like how Rivera looks. He’s a good passer, he can dribble, he can be good defensively and win the ball… he’s a complete player, I don’t know what more you can ask for. The Columbian seems to have gone from a regular starter to on the bench (I don’t know why… I can’t find any injuries, suspensions or absences on transfermarkt, but if anybody has any idea what happened other than him straight up losing his spot, please shoot me a DM at @Jolly_Zay on Twitter so I can update this). His contract expires at the end of the year and he could be looking for a role to play more. I think he’d be a really good signing.
Attacking Mids:
Xylph:
Bruno Zapelli (Belgrano), 20
Zapelli is more of an attacking mid instead of a defensive mid but I'm still gonna include him. Zapelli plays like Almada if you’ve ever watched Almada play. Zapelli loves through balls, running towards the goal and dribbling the ball. He would be a very good Almada replacement if Almada was sold.
Gabriel Pirani (Santos), 20
Pirani, like Zapelli, is an attacking midfielder instead of a defensive mid. Pirani loves to have the ball and drive. Since he loves to have the ball, he’ll drop back and get the ball in the defensive third. He is an excellent freekick and corner taker as well. Pirani would be a good backup or even replacement for Almada. He has already been linked to a few MLS and European clubs too.
Marcel Ruiz (Toluca), 22
Ruiz is a great Mexican prospect. He plays as a AM in a 4231, so if he would come here he would be a Almada backup/replacement. Like every AM, he loves to pass the ball into the final third and dribble the ball past defenders. It seems like he has the skill set to play as a DM as well. He likes to drop back and defend. Overall, Ruiz has a very good footballing IQ and I would take him in Atlanta any day.
Zay:
Matias Zaracho (Club Atlético Mineiro), 24
I’ve been following this lad for a while now and let me say, I love him. He’s not done great in terms of statistical production with Miniero, but he’s a very pacey player with a lot of skill, and started 24 games. Other than 2022, he’s done well enough in Brazil in terms of statistical production. I would love to see him in an AU jersey should Almada leave if he doesn’t end up in Europe (The only scenario in which I would actually like signing an attacking midfielder is if Almada is gone).
Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), 28
In the opinion of my much more knowledgeable friend, Futbol Spy, he’s the best player in South America. His two goals in 108 minutes in the World Cup should prove that. He’s simply a baller. He’d be an unlikely signing, but he’d be the best player in MLS. Creative and oozing class, if Garthy Claus managed to pull this off, it would be incredible. This is probably just a pipe dream, but god do I hope he can be the guy to succeed Thiago Almada.
Facundo Farias (Colon), 20
He’s one of my favorite wonderkids in South America. He can play as a 9, as a winger or as an attacking mid. He’s got plenty of pace, has scored the goals, and was in the 80th percentile in key passes in Copa Libertadores among Attacking Mids/Wingers, 81st in xAg, and 60th in xA, as well as 98th(!) percentile among Attacking Mids/Wingers in the NEXT EIGHT COMPETITIONS in goals scored/90. As a kid who turned 20 like four months ago. He’s a brilliant talent, and would be a great guy to replace Almada.
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