TORONTO — Toronto FC GM Jason Hernandez says reinforcements are coming. And there may be motion out the door earlier than Toronto opens MLS regular-season play Feb.
TORONTO — Toronto FC GM Jason Hernandez says reinforcements are coming.
And there may be motion out the door earlier than Toronto opens MLS regular-season play Feb. 22 with Hernandez suggesting the way forward for Italian designated gamers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi is probably not on the membership.
Hernandez, noting the membership will get inquiries about each gamers at each switch window, mentioned discussions proceed with Insigne’s camp. And he reiterated the phrases of MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley that “every part is on the desk.”
“That’s nonetheless true at this time limit,” he advised a night reception for Toronto season ticket-holders Thursday.
“Actually (they’re) two gamers which are underneath contract (with TFC). Is there a world the place not each of these gamers are underneath contract to start out the season? Sure, there’s a world the place that’s the evaluation.”
With different switch home windows closing, Turkey is a potential vacation spot.
Insigne, who turns 34 in June, has been a polarizing, forlorn determine in Toronto colors. Whereas he has proven flashes of chic expertise, they haven’t come fairly often and the injury-plagued Insigne has typically seemed like he desires to be wherever else.
Bernardeschi, painted as a disruptive unfastened cannon by some throughout the Bob Bradley period, was way more productive as a wingback underneath former coach John Herdman.
The flashy Italian, who turns 31 on Feb. 16, earned all-star honours enjoying in a deeper function. However he confirmed the self-control of a toddler at instances, with disciplinary lapses that value the workforce.
With their mixed salaries of US$21.7 million final 12 months producing 12 objectives and 15 assists, it was not cash not nicely spent.
Hernandez was flanked by Pelley and new Toronto coach Robin Fraser with former star striker Sebastian Giovinco, who rejoined the membership in October as a particular adviser, watching from the gang at a downtown sports activities bar.
Hernandez mentioned the workforce at present has affords out on a striker, a centre again and a midfielder.
One ahead possibility — AS Roma ahead Eldor Shomurodov — is not in play, nonetheless. It seems the 2 couldn’t come to an settlement on the Uzbekistan captain after extended negotiations in Rome involving Hernandez, Giovinco and Marco Neppe, the previous Bayern Munich technical director now serving as a Toronto adviser.
Shomurodov joined Roma on a five-year deal from Genoa in August 2021 for an preliminary price of 17.5 million euros ($26 million).
Hernandez’ objective is to land a chosen player-level expertise utilizing focused allocation cash (TAM), a league contrivance to assist herald elite expertise with out the DP label. Underneath league guidelines, which means a most wage of some US$1.74 million in 2025 with Toronto trying to convert that participant into a chosen participant in 2026.
Toronto’s lone low season addition, to this point, has been Canadian worldwide winger Theo Corbeanu, acquired on a season-long mortgage from Spain’s Granada CF.
Lifting a nook of the front-office curtain, Hernandez prompt one of many causes the membership has not gone on a buying spree is that it’s giving Fraser a while to guage the expertise.
Doing it proper additionally takes time, he provided.
On the roster development entrance, Hernandez mentioned the membership is leaning towards going with the league’s “U-22 Initiative Participant” mannequin, which permits as much as two designated gamers and as much as 4 U-22 initiative gamers (in each instances, solely a portion of their pay counts in the case of the wage cap). That mannequin comes with a further US$2 million on the whole allocation cash (which can be utilized to purchase down wage prices).
“We really desire extra within the younger area, make investments extra within the U-22s,” Hernandez mentioned.
The opposite possibility is the “Three Designated Participant” mannequin, which permits for as much as three designated gamers and as much as three U-22 initiative gamers.
Toronto at present has three DPs in Insigne, Bernardeschi and Canadian fullback/wingback Richie Laryea.
Hernandez prompt the membership is leaning towards going with two DPs this 12 months, switching again to a few DPs in 2026.
TFC doesn’t essentially have to shed a DP to go the U-22 Initiative route given Laryea’s contract might be transformed to a non-DP deal.
Hernandez additionally confirmed that former TFC fullback Steven Beitashour, in addition to former Colorado Rapids assistant Wolde Harris, are becoming a member of Fraser’s teaching workers.
Pelley advised the supporters that lacking the playoffs the final 4 years was unacceptable. Higher days are coming, he added.
“Our solely objective is to contend for an MLS Cup on an annual foundation … It is going to be a relentless pursuit of championships,” he mentioned.
He additionally promised “some unbelievable friendlies” to be introduced within the subsequent month.
Hernandez advised the supporters that he, Fraser and Giovinco — given their time with the membership — are absolutely invested.
“It means to us what it means to you … As a result of fairly frankly we’ve got as a lot pores and skin within the sport as anybody,” he mentioned.
A former assistant coach in Toronto underneath Greg Vanney from 2015 to 2019 earlier than leaving to take cost of the Colorado Rapids, Fraser says he has preferred what he has seen within the workforce character to this point.
“This group has labored extremely exhausting since we have began. And that alone makes me really feel like we’re in for one thing good,” he mentioned.
“I’ve a variety of religion that that is going to be an attention-grabbing 12 months,” he added.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Feb. 7, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
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