Los Angeles FC received positive news confirming the imminent return of Eduard Atuesta, former team midfielder, who is about to leave Palmeiras to rejoin the MLS club.
Los Angeles FC, the eternal runner-up of 2023, faces an off-season of challenges and expectations as it prepares for the upcoming season. The Black and Gold begins preparing to rebuild its squad after a series of significant changes in a short time following the defeat to the Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup final in Ohio, just a few weeks ago. The club started training camp last week with only 16 players under contract, a considerably low number for the demands of all North American competitions the team will participate in 2024.
With the departure of several key players, including starters like Kellyn Acosta and José Cifuentes, Atuesta’s arrival is seen as an opportunity to strengthen the team’s midfield and add quality to the squad.
Atuesta, Origi, Morales: LAFC Transfer Rumors
The information about Atuesta’s loan to an MLS team, including a purchase option, was released by GE, leaving LAFC fans hopeful for the return of the talented midfielder to the club that launched him to the world. Território MLS reporter Cristian Moraes confirmed the news.
In addition to Atuesta’s return, LAFC is involved in several transfer rumors and potential signings that are shaking up the football world. One of these rumors involves the possible arrival of Divock Origi, whose loan spell at Nottingham Forest did not meet expectations. With the possibility of ending his loan from AC Milan, Origi could be on his way to Los Angeles FC for the remainder of the season, adding firepower to the team’s potent attack.
Divock Origi's Nottingham Forest loan to be cancelled after just NINE games with ex-Liverpool star to seal transfer https://t.co/vXQNkW4uHq https://t.co/vXQNkW4uHq
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) January 29, 2024
Another transfer rumor generating excitement is the possible signing of David Martínez Morales from Monagas SC. At 18 years old, Morales is considered one of Venezuela’s most promising talents and has attracted interest from European clubs. His potential arrival at LAFC represents a unique opportunity for the club, which aims to invest in young talents like Kike Olivera from Uruguay, among many other South Americans who have passed through the Los Angeles team.
It looks to be an absolutely huge move by LAFC as they are set to sign one of the most promising young talents in David Martínez Morales from Monagas SC.
Morales impressed a lot of people at both the U17 and U20 levels throughout last year, most notably scoring 8 goals in 13… pic.twitter.com/l1qJL87K2U
— Mark Kelkenberg (@KelkenSport) January 29, 2024
LAFC: Challenges and Expectations for the 2024 Season
General manager John Thorrington expressed optimism about filling the remaining squad spots during a press conference last week. Still, he recognized the obstacles faced by the team, highlighting the short off-season after a rigorous 2023 season, in which LAFC played a total of 53 games, reaching the finals of the CONCACAF Champions League and the MLS Cup. According to him, the intensity of the previous season resulted in the loss of 18 key players from the squad, including starters like Giorgio Chiellini, Diego Palacios, Maxime Crepeau, and John McCarthy.
However, there is good news for LAFC fans. The club kept some key players, including top scorer Denis Bouanga, who returned after some uncertainty. In addition, the addition of World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is seen as a significant boost for the team, along with the return of defender Eddie Segura after a long absence due to injury.
Carlos Vela Expected to Return to LAFC
In his press conference, Thorrington also confirmed that LAFC continues to negotiate with the most important player in its history, the captain, Carlos Vela. The GM also emphasized the need for reinforcements in critical positions, such as midfield, and a possible replacement for Diego Palacios, the new Corinthians left-back who spent several years as a starter at LAFC. However, the challenge of fitting within the MLS salary cap always tends to complicate teams’ plans, making the recruitment season even more unpredictable for clubs in a similar situation.
For LAFC, Atuesta’s return and speculation about the other two heavyweight signings would represent an opportunity to forget the tumultuous 2023 season and start 2024 with a complete squad capable of winning titles in a season, something that didn’t quite come together in 2023. The question, however, is whether these signigns will be enough to make up for the departures observed so far.
