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Transfer Hot Stove: Major League Soccer Edition

Major League Soccer and the weather have been heating up as the league enters the summer leg of the 2015 season.  The secondary transfer window, July 8th – August 6th, has been buzzing with most of the headlines surrounding New York City Football Club. 

The Jason Kreis coached side has made two early splashes.  The first was the announcement was the signing of 32-year-old defender Androni Iraola on a free transfer.  His arrival in the Big Apple will provide the backline of NYC FC with a veteran of the Spanish first division.  Iraola made 510 appearances for Athletico Bilbao, scoring 38 goals over a 12-season career.  He will be reunited with forward David Villa as the pair has featured previously for the Spanish National Team. New York has also signed highly rated Manchester City starlet Jose Angel Tasande, Under-21 Youth Academy left back, to a season long loan deal.  His pace and ability to fly up the flanks will benefit their wing play greatly.       

The crowning jewel for NYC FC however, will be the arrival of English talisman Frank Lampard.  Lampard completed a loan deal with Manchester City this past English Premier League season, scoring 6 goals and tallying 4 assists over the course of 14 appearances.  “Super Frank” brings an injection of technical and attacking class to a midfield that contains U.S. international Mix Diskerud. Lampard turned pro in 1995 featuring for West Ham United before transferring to Chelsea FC in 2001. The 36-year-old played his way into English folklore at Chelsea F.C. by scoring 147 goals in 429 appearances while winning Premier League Player of the Decade (2001-10). 

His debut set for sometime this month will be extremely timely with the second ever match against inner city rivals New York Red Bulls on June 28th.  The pair met in a memorable 2-1 fixture on May 10th with the Red Bulls pushing on the attack after a 36th minute red card to Matt Miazga.  They were able to ride a brace from 2014 MLS Golden Boot Winner Bradley Wright-Phillips to victory, putting this second clash into the forefront of the upcoming fixtures.   

In addition to NYC FC, the LA Galaxy will also be welcoming a former international teammate of Lampard to MLS this summer.  Former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, alongside Lampard, have been in the spotlight of English football dominating English Premier midfielders for over the past 10 years.  

“Stevie G” had a decorated career at Liverpool to say the least, appearing in an outstanding overall total of 710 games while tallying 186 goals with this recording dating back to 1988.  His top achievements include winning 3 League Cups, 2 FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League in historic fashion during the 2005 campaign.  All eyes of the MLS world will be watching the LA Galaxy vs. NYCFC on August 23rd when the former English international midfield 1-2-punch square off at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA.  


The MLS has been swirling with potential transfers as well.  Taking the headlines, again, NYC FC has been in the hunt to add former Juventus and Italian international midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Speculation has heated up after rumors that the three time Serié A Player of the Year has been house hunting in the tri-state area.  If this move happens, I whole heartedly believe that NYC FC will make the playoffs. 
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