WVHooligan - Soccer Blog

Reports out of the Big Apple suggest that Venezuelan winger Jorge Rojas could be joining the Red Bulls this summer.

According to Ives, some reports had a deal already being finalized between Rojas and the Red Bulls, but Ives learned that no deal has been completed yet. The key word there being “yet”.

If Rojas does reach a deal with the Red Bulls, he would not be able to join the team until July 15, when the MLS transfer window opened. It was previously thought the MLS summer transfer window would open up on June 15, but I suppose we all got our dates wrong as it does indeed open up in July. A one month difference shouldn’t be a big deal for most clubs.

For those who aren’t familiar with Rojas, he is a winger that can also work his way into an attacking midfield role when needed. The 31-year old Venezuelan has bounced around from club to club in Venezuela over the years. Mostly playing for smaller clubs. He is the second most capped player in the history of the Venezuela national team.

Some may also remember him for his play against Boca Junior in the Copa Libertadores earlier this year.

He should be a solid addition to this club. They really need some attacking flair on the wings and more importantly someone to help create in the middle of the pitch as an attacking midfielder. That role hasn’t been kept up as it should have been this season. That’s been a big reason as to why the Red Bulls have been rather weak on offense this season.

While I think its a good signing, I sort of look at it like a Laurent Robert or Rohan Ricketts signing like up in Toronto. A solid wing player that contributes well but doesn’t make headlines. This strikes me as one of those kinds of signings.

An interesting sidebar for those who love the transfer/signing rumors, Ives threw this in at the end of his post:

Rojas, 31, is one of three players Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio has targeted for the upcoming summer transfer window. Fellow Venezuelan Gabriel Cichero is another player with strong ties to the club. The Venezuelan national team defender could fulfill Osorio’s lengthy search for a left-footed central defender.

We all knew this kind of information going into the season that the club needed a winger and another defender or two. With the Red Bulls not playing well in recent weeks it looks like the countdown is really on for the window to open up for them to get some reinforcements into the lineup to energize this club.