Red Bulls underwhelm in transfer window with playoffs anything but certain | amNewYork

"For a team dawdling at the outskirts of Major League Soccer's playoff picture, the New York Red Bulls' work during the month-long summer transfer window does not suggest they are all-in on extending their streak of 15-straight postseason appearances or building on their surprise run to the 2024 Eastern Conference title and an appearance in the MLS Cup Final, which they lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy."

"Instead, there were bare-bones moves rather than legitimate difference-makers. Veteran Swedish holding midfielder Gustav Berggren was brought in from Poland to replace Felipe Carballo, and he still has not debuted for New York despite signing on July 23 because of visa issues that were finally resolved on Thursday. Young Costa Rican winger Andy Rojas completed his move from Herediano after a loan spell with the Red Bulls' reserve team, where he will likely see most of his action rather than with the first team."

"Hours before the transfer window closed on Thursday, they executed a savvy trade to bring in veteran goalkeeper John McCarthy from Los Angeles, in which the Galaxy is eating more than $400,000 of his salary, per a source. He will serve as the backup to Carlos Coronel after No. 2 keeper AJ Marcucci went down with a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago."

The New York Red Bulls made modest, low-impact acquisitions during the summer transfer window while lingering on the outskirts of the MLS playoff picture. Gustav Berggren arrived from Poland to replace Felipe Carballo but had not debuted because of visa issues resolved only on Thursday. Costa Rican winger Andy Rojas completed a move from Herediano and will mostly play with the Red Bulls' reserve team rather than the first team. Hours before the window closed the club traded for veteran goalkeeper John McCarthy from Los Angeles, with the Galaxy covering more than $400,000 of his salary; he will back up Carlos Coronel after AJ Marcucci's season-ending knee injury. No incoming signing addresses the need for consistent attacking support alongside Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and talks for Timo Werner collapsed over salary demands.

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