Now 14 months in, Khaled El-Ahmad is more comfortable in his role as Minnesota United’s chief soccer officer. He’s worked to enhance the club’s culture on and off the field and believes MNUFC is now better positioned to pursue targets in the summer transfer window.
The Loons added four players in the just-closed primary transfer window, a group headlined by wingback/midfielder Julian Gressel.
MNUFC can have up to three vacant senior roster spots for additions this summer, with the ability to add one Designated Player and one Under-22 Initiative signing. This is possible with the buying down the midfielder Joaquin Pereyra’s DP contract and the likelihood the club puts Hassani Dotson on the season-ending injury list.
Some of their approach will be situational, El-Ahmad said, taking into account other possible injuries or sales of current players to other clubs.
“So, we’re quite open,” he said.
Al-Ahmad also teased some new “really exiting” additions for the club’s developmental team, MNUFC2.
“We have to be good at picking in various pockets (around the world), so we are also exploring the various pockets,” El-Ahmad said. “We do spend time on college and we do try to look international with the young ones.”
Interest in Ramsay
El-Ahmad said he expects head coach Eric Ramsay to be linked to job openings in his native England. That has already happened this year with Ramsay being tied to openings at Swansea City and Southampton.
“There is none of that at this moment (that) is reality,” El-Ahmad said. “It’s a testament to us that we have a young coach that is respected.”
Pending free agents
Loons have a handful of key papers nearing the end of their contracts. Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and Dotson have expiring contracts at the end of the season.
“We want to provide the best possible situation that is good for the player and the club,” El-Ahmad said. “If we meet, great. If we don’t, then we move on.”
Captain center back Michael Boxall and midfielders Wil Trapp and Robin Lod are under club options for the 2026 season.
GAM use explained
The Loons had the third-highest amount of general allocation money (GAM) as of late February. MNUFC checked in at $3.8 million, behind only San Diego ($4.1 million) and New York City ($4.2 million), according to MLS.
Some fans have been calling on the club to spend more of this resource on the roster.
“I think it’s important that we need to have flexibility,” El-Ahmad explained. “There needs to be flexibility if injuries happen. There needs to be flexibility if the market provides you opportunities that you can take advantage of. And I want to have flexibility to keep improving every window.”
Briefly
El-Ahmad said Joseph Rosales has denied he used discriminatory language toward Vancouver’s Emmanuel Sabbi during Sunday’s match. The club is respecting the MLS process in determining if Rosales said something that would warrant punishment. … Loons have been pursuing U.S. Green Cards for a handful of players, including Sang Bin Jeong, Jefferson Diaz and Pereyra. But uncertainty looms over whether the immigration paperwork will be obtained given the Trump administration policies. … MNUFC2’s Jeremy Hall was named MLS Next Pro coach of the month after a 4-0-0 start in April. The second team’s home opener at 3 p.m. Friday at the National Sports Center in Blaine.
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