Philadelphia Union: Transfer Targets to Fill out the Roster

 Rico Strieder (FC Utrecht)

One midfield threat watched diligently since his arrival in the Dutch league who has the potential to cause havoc within Major League soccer is 24-year-old Rico Strieder. The German prospect is a brilliant young facilitator who’s completed 84% of his passes this season and is averaging over 2 interceptions and tackles per game; finding near equal success both offensively and defensively. Strieder’s agile frame allows for him to fill passing lanes consistently and break through defenses without the ball, resulting in more fouls taken and set piece opportunities.

Having spent his entire youth career in German powerhouse Bayern Munchen’s academy, Strieder possesses the pedigree and discipline from one of the strongest developmental organizations in the world. Yet with such a surplus of talent, many players end up falling short of cracking into the first team while many compete for other teams via year long loans that can add up over time. Luckily for Strieder, he was sold on a permanent deal where he has since matured and continues to develop at a fantastic rate.

He has always had a desire to return to the Bundesliga which actually bodes well for us Philadelphia Union fans because both leagues are very similar in structure and gameplay. He is outstandingly fit, has the ability to score from long range and would complement a number of our attacking midfielders with his knack to create chances left and right. Having not even reached the pinnacle of his oozing potential in the defensive midfield position, Strieder has shown that he can get it done on both sides of the ball and would be an invaluable asset to this team.