Reports: Dynamo acquiring USMNT midfielder Jack McGlynn
(image via Chris Arjoon/AFP)
Houston Dynamo fans have been asking the question, what is the team going to do in midfield? That question was emphatically answered on Saturday morning with multiple reports confirming that the Dynamo are acquiring midfielder Jack McGlynn from the Philadelphia Union.
Writer Phil West reported this morning that Dynamo President of Soccer Pat Onstad told attendees at an analytics conference in Houston that a trade with Philadelphia would be announced in the next 24-48 hours. Not long after, Bogert broke the news that it was McGlynn headed to Houston.
Thanks to the new Major League Soccer rules, teams can now trade cash for players, similar to the transfer system in the rest of world football. Philadelpia Inquirer writer Jonathan Tannenwald reports that the Dynamo will send over $2 million to the Union for McGlynn. Philadelphia will also retain a 50% sell on fee if Houston sells him abroad.
McGlynn, still just 21 years old, struggled for the Union last season. He wasn’t a fit tactically in what writer Matt Doyle calls “the Union’s murderball game model.” McGlynn has showed many flashes of brilliance, however, including the world class goal he scored for the USMNT last month. He also featured for the US in last summer’s Olympic Games.
McGlynn should excel in Ben Olsen’s system with the Dynamo, taking over the number 8 role that Hector Herrera was so good at. He loves to be on the ball and create line-breaking, dangerous passes. If the Dynamo use their open U22 Roster Initiative spot on McGlynn, they will still have room to bring in a Designated Player number 10.
(image via FBref.com)
On a U22 deal McGlynn’s cap hit will stay low for the Dynamo, allowing Pat Onstad and the front office staff room to bring in more players. Head coach Ben Olsen said the team is looking at 3-6 signings. A DP may still be on the way but getting McGlynn is a huge statement for this club.
