A source close to New York Red Bulls management has confirmed to MLSsoccer.com that the club intends to purchase a third designated player slot, as allowed by the recently expanded DP rule.
The Red Bulls would be the first team in the league, according to the source, to purchase the slot for a marquee player.
Under the terms of the newly minted collective bargaining agreement, teams are allocated two designated player slots and have an option to purchase a third slot from the league for $250,000. The money used to purchase the third slot is then divvied up as allocation money amongst all the teams who have chosen not to purchase an additional slot.
The source confirmed that the Red Bulls, who already have Juan Pablo Ángel as a designated player, have already begun the process of evaluating talent and players who could possibly fill the two DP slots available on the roster.
According to the source, the Red Bulls are looking to add players who will help the club beyond the on-the-field performance -- marquee names who would also help fill Red Bull Arena.
“If you bring in a DP, it has to be one that really matters,” the source said. “It has to be both sides. The right kind of personality, the right kind for the media and the right for marketing. But for [New York], first and foremost, it’s about what happens on the pitch.”
Other roster moves appear imminent for New York, with English forward Luke Rodgers and Danish left midfielder Brian Nielsen both reportedly on the verge of joining.
