This time a week ago, the news of Kacper Pryzyblko’s imminent departure broke. Leaving many fans questioning the Union’s lack of depth at the striker position. Now, after loading up talent over the last few days, Union fans feel as good as ever.
Kacper Pryzyblko has been officially transferred to the Chicago Fire. Ending his 3-year spell with the Union. He leaves the Union 2nd in club goals scored in all competitions. Including bringing home the golden boot in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.
Kacper forever etched himself in Union history, and he will always be welcomed in Philadelphia. We wish him all the best in Chicago.
The Moment We’ve All Been Waiting For
For years, the Union has been missing a certain piece of the puzzle to success. To fans, it was obvious it was a great striker. However, after years of begging the front office, fans have been awarded for their patience.
The Union will be signing Forward Mikael Uhre from the Danish side Brondby. Uhre was the top scorer in Denmark’s league in 2021. With Brondby, Uhre also got experience playing in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. In 2021, the 27-year-old made his debut with Denmark’s senior national team.
While the specifics of his transfer to the Union are yet to be released, his predicted value is about $3.3 million.
Uhre will hold a Designated Player spot on the Union Roster. He would be the third DP on the Union roster, as Jamiro Monteiro currently holds a spot and newly signed Julian Carranza holds a “young DP” designation.
Mikael Uhre is the goal-scoring Forward the Union has been yearning for. A guy who can go out there and change the game.
Does Brondby Sound Familiar?
If you only follow MLS and Denmark’s Brondby sounds familiar, it is because it is not Brondby’s first big transfer to the MLS.
Brondby transferred Hany Mukhtar to Nashville SC for $2.97 million in 2020.
Mukhtar, an MLS MVP finalist in 2021, has exploded into one of the top players in MLS with his playmaking and goal-creating ability. The Union will be hoping for the same thing from Uhre.
The Union Weren’t Done There
The club is making another signing at the forward position. This time 17-year-old Venezuelan Jose Riasco. The reported fee is about $1 million.
It is unclear what kind of role Riasco will hold for the Union. However, $1 million is a lot for a guy to not get a lot of playing time or play for Union 2. It is very possible Riasco is signing due to the fact the Union is going to lose another striker.
Nothing is confirmed by any means, however, the Union will have 6 strikers worthy of first-team minutes. The Union’s depth chart of Strikers Reads:
Mikael Uhre
Julian Carranza
Sergio Santos
Corey Burke
Jose Riasco
Jack De Vries (loaned out)
For argument’s sake, let’s say Jack De Vries either extends his loan out or gets transferred permanently. That still leaves the Union with an influx of strikers. The club already has an influx of midfielders, so it would be surprising if the Union dress more than 3-4 strikers a game.
Common sense would see that there is 1 guy that is going to be left out or transferred out of those 5 guys. Since 3 of them are new signees, it will be Sergio Santos or Corey Burke.
A possibility is Riasco spends time with Union 2 to get acclimated, then in the summer transfer window Burke or Santos gets transferred out and Riasco can assume first-team duties.
Crazy how just a week ago we were wondering how the Union would survive with such a thin striker group…
It Wouldn’t Be a Union Signing Frenzy Without a Homegrown
To cap a week of new signings by the Union, the club finally announced the signing of a highly anticipated homegrown.
The Union announced the signing of 19-year-old defender Anton Sorenson.
Sorenson has been rumored to sign to the Union’s senior team for a while now. Sorenson joined the Union academy in 2019 and spent the 2020 season with Union 2.
With the possibility of Kai Wagner’s departure either within this last week of the transfer window or in the summer, Sorenson can learn from one of the best, and take over for him one day.
The Union are All In
After a season where a COVID outbreak snatched them from a possible MLS cup, the Union is loading up and coming into 2022 with an even scarier team. Let’s see what these signees can really do and if the Union is poised to lift more hardware in 2022.
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