The Philadelphia Union may never compete with the big spenders of Major League Soccer. The way the club will succeed is with bargain deals for players that fly under the radar of most teams. Dutch left back Giliano Wijnaldum fits that profile, and the brother of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum became the team’s first offseason addition on Thursday.
“We’re still building this organization when it comes to scouting and we don’t have the means right now to have 15 scouts out there so you back to the network that you have and come across those players,” Union sporting director Earnie Stewart said.
“Yes, you do have those players that fly under the radar because the guys on the top of the radar are hard to bring in because of salaries,” Stewart said. “That’s not us. That’s not what we’re capable of doing and there’s nothing wrong with that. We do try to find those players under the radar and Giliano is one of those players that still flies under the radar with great potential.”
The 24-year-old, who Stewart is familiar with from his time at AZ Alkmaar, brings needed depth to the left back positions. Fabinho started 29 matches last season for the Union, but they didn’t have a true backup to the Brazilian. The addition of Wijnaldum brings competition to left back that the Union had at other positions in 2016.
“That’s what we want all over the field in every single position we have,” Stewart said. “It’s good competition between those teammates and making them better every single day.”
Both Stewart and head coach Jim Curtin are high on Wijnaldum’s qualities as a left back and what he brings to the pitch, especially with the way the Union want their defenders to play out of the back. The pair also believe the Dutchman’s skill set is suited for MLS.
“As the game’s evolved, especially how we want to do it in Philadelphia, we want our outside backs to get forward,” Curtin said. “We want them on the ball making decisions, we want them attacking. Getting service into the box. Giliano checks all those boxes.”
“He is a left defender, can also play on the inside when necessary as a left center back,” Stewart added. “He’s one of those defenders with a lot of speed, he has the physical ability, he can be good in the air, he likes running up and down the line a lot and delivering crosses so there’s a lot of potential there for Giliano, especially in this league where you need to be an athlete and making sure that you’re up and down.”
If Wijnaldum breaks into the starting 11, there’s a chance Fabinho could move up the pitch to spell Chris Pontius on the left wing at points in the season. Curtin remained coy on that possibility and other selection decisions for the 2017 season.
“Everybody that comes in is competing for a spot,” Curtin said. “Nothing is guaranteed. Sure, we have those with the national team now, but nothing will be handed to them. Competition brings the best out of players. We’ll always looking to improve and strengthen it and this signing does that.”
As for the rest of the transfer targets the Union are after, Stewart confirmed the club is looking for another forward and a center back. The club’s preseason preparations begin on January 23, with most of the preseason spent in Clearwater, Florida.