Colorado Rapids, Preseason

11 Potential Rapids Designated Player Signings

 

It’s about that time of year again where I look on TransferMarkt, WhoScored, and peruse my copy of Football Manager to search and find players that the Rapids could snap up to fill out their Designated Player slots. There’s nothing quite like seeing the “Available Players” tab on TransferMarkt and thinking “Huh, that guy is available?” and then proceed to watch highlights of said player and think “This is exactly what the Rapids need!” Looking around some databases, I’ve gathered exactly what type of player the Rapids should sign as well as who exactly they should sign.

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Rapids Journal

Pádraig, Call the Crew’s Bluff

Columbus sources sure seem intent on ensuring that the Colorado Rapids overpay for central defender Lalas Abubakar. And why wouldn’t they? The Ghanaian was out of favor for the first two months of the Crew’s season – only managing one appearance before arriving to Denver on loan. If a club has a chance to garner an obscene fee for a bench player they’re going to take it every time.

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Rapids Journal

Colorado Solidifies First Team Depth During Draft Weekend

The Colorado Rapids traded away a fan favorite, but made some valuable acquisitions to strengthen their squad squad depth during the MLS SuperDraft. The weekend’s moves were the latest in a whirlwind of activity orchestrated by the Rapids front office ahead of the 2019 season.

Colorado Friday by announcing the successful signing of veteran midfielder, Benny Feilhaber. Half an hour later, the Rapids traded up to the fifth overall pick of the SuperDraft to select standout University of Denver striker, Andre Shinyashiki. Colorado finished the afternoon by drafting Marcello Borges (University of Michigan) and Jacob Hauser-Ramsey (University of Connecticut), but not before winger-turned-fullback Marlon Hairston was sent to the Houston Dynamo in exchange for $175,000 General Allocation Money.

Anthony Hudson expressed relief and pleasure after the completion of the second round of the draft, noting that the new additions “complement” the work done by General Manager Pádraig Smith, who has spearheaded Colorado’s activity in the MLS Primary Transfer Window.

“At the end of last season, we had so many scouting meetings, and we went through all the targets that we wanted,” Hudson explained, “Pádraig and our scouts have delivered.”

Colorado followed up Friday’s acquisitions by drafting Robbie Mertz with their seventy-sixth overall selection during the fourth round on Monday’s supplementary, conference-call draft.

In advance of Tuesday’s special announcement, it is necessary to critically evaluate the impact of these moves on Colorado’s ongoing roster rebuild and understand what role each player can serve in the first team.

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Roster Updates

Caleb Calvert returns to Colorado from Charlotte loan

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The Colorado Rapids announced Friday that Caleb Calvert has returned to Denver from his loan to Charlotte Independence in the United Soccer League.

The 21-year-old American forward scored only one goal and registered two assists across his thirteen appearances with the Rapids’ USL affiliate club in 2018. Calvert joined Colorado after Chivas USA folded in 2014 and has spent four loan stints with the Independence.

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Transfer Rumors

Source: Rapids interested in Norwegian youth international Sander Svendsen

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The Colorado Rapids are attempting to sign Norwegian youth international striker Sander Svendsen on loan from Hammarby IF, a source close to Svendsen’s agent told Rapids Republic Wednesday morning.

Representatives from Colorado apparently have been in contact with the forward’s agent this week regarding a loan deal that would secure more playing time for Svendsen, who was once heralded as one “of the best young talents in world football.”

Svendsen – supposedly “keen on a move to MLS” – is expected to see less of the field following Hammarby’s successful acquisition of Montenegro International Vladimir Rodic. Fotboll Direkt first reported Monday that Hammarby was seeking to loan Svendsen to a team in MLS if the club was able to sign the Montenegrin attacker.

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Roster Updates

Michael Azira loaned to Colorado Springs Switchbacks F.C. [Updated]

Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids

Colorado Rapids defensive midfielder Michael Azira will join Colorado Springs Switchbacks F.C. on loan.

Switchbacks head coach Steve Trittschuh revealed that the Ugandan native will be available for the club’s weekend match against Oklahoma City in an interview with XTRA Sports 1300’s Ryan Kaufman.

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Roster Updates

Kip Colvey loaned to Colorado Springs Switchbacks F.C.

Soccer: Mexican National Team vs New Zealand

Defender Kip Colvey “has been loaned to Colorado Springs Switchbacks F.C.,” according to an announcement made by the Colorado Rapids on Friday.

Colvey, 24, joined Colorado via the MLS Waiver Draft after being released by San Jose Earthquakes at the end of the 2017 regular season. Colvey has only appeared in three games for the Rapids during their 2018 campaign and has struggled to find playing time at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

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