By CAITLIN MURRAY

Real Salt Lake fans were under the impression the club’s Designated Player situation was set heading into 2014, but team owner Dell Loy Hansen revealed on Wednesday that the club could now have room to add another one.

“We’ve put more money into this team than any team before,” Loy Hansen told ESPN 700 in Utah on Wednesday. “We’ve kind of cleared possibly a DP spot and I’ve said, ‘We can go hunting.'”

“The obvious thing we have to keep our eye out for is (Javier) Morales’ age. He’s amazing, he anchors such an important part of the team and hopefully (Luis) Gil can accrue to that spot. But you’ve got to keep an eye open that we need to have maybe some real money to put a person into that top of the midfield to feed the forwards.”

Hansen has let team officials know he wants the club to think big in the DP department, though RSL technical director Craig Waibel made it clear the club will be thorough in its search, and won’t just rush to spend big money.

“We are a homework-based club — we aren’t a big-ticket, buy-now club,” Waibel said on Wednesday. “We’ll do our research. Our owner has stated many times that he is interested in bringing in a well-known, world-class designated player. But it’s a matter of continuing to do our homework to be sure that guy fits in.”

RSL currently has Morales, Alvaro Saborio and Sebastian Jaime as designated players, but a number of methods could have freed up one of the three slots. Among the possibilities are a new contract for Morales that gives the playmaker more guaranteed years, but a lower salary that moves him out of the DP range.

Also, the club could have shifted around the transfer fee it spent in acquiring Jaime, who counted as a DP in part  because of the fee RSL paid to acquire him. RSL could have paid down the transfer fee using the funds it secured in the sale of defender Carlos Salcedo to Chivas Guadalajara, which would then remove Jaime’s DP tag for the 2015 season.

Here are some more of Thursday’s MLS news and notes:

GERRARD WILL NOT BE GALAXY CAPTAIN, KEANE SAYS

Despite rumors that LA Galaxy’s new arrival Steven Gerrard would take the captain’s armband when he joins the club from Liverpool, Robbie Keane has shot down the idea.

The current dual-captain for the Galaxy and the Irish national team said on Thursday that Gerrard is not coming in to take over.

“He is arriving as an addition, not as a replacement as captain,” Keane told reporters in the Dublin. “I have spoken to Steven and he is excited about the challenge of coming to LA Galaxy. He is going to be a great addition to our squad.”

Gerrard, who is set to join the Galaxy in the summer, is still sidelined in Liverpool due to a hamstring injury.

D.C. UNITED, SPORTING KC SIGN FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICKS

Both D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City have agreed to terms with first-round draft picks, the clubs announced Wednesday.

D.C. United has signed Miguel Aguilar, the 17th overall pick, while Sporting KC has secured the services of Amadou Dia, the 20th overall pick.

Aguilar, a 21-year-old University of San Francisco product, will make his pro debut coming off a college career that saw 15 goals in 72 games. The midfielder has already made an impact in D.C. United’s preseason matches.

Dia, a defender, joins Sporting KC from Clemson, tallying four goals and six assists in 70 appearances. The 21-year-old ranks second in minutes for Sporting KC this preseason.

RAPIDS END ROCKY SPONSOR RELATIONSHIP

With their previous sponsor deal turning sour, the Colorado Rapids appear to be on the hunt for a new front-of-the-jersey sponsor.

Up until recently, their sponsor was Ciao Telecom, but now it’s up to courts to decide whose at fault for the failed $8.3 million sponsorship deal. The Rapids are arguing Ciao Telecom failed to make nearly half a million dollars in payments as part of the deal.

The old sponsor has been phased out of the Rapid’s presence and their preseason match jerseys had no logo, which indicates the deal with Ciao Telecom has finally been terminated, but a new sponsor is not in place.

Last month, Rapids president Tim Hinchey said the club was looking at four or five possible jersey sponsors and two have since declined.

QUICK KICKS

The San Jose Earthquakes’ new Avaya Stadium will be used to host the World Rugby Pacific National Cup on July 18. (REPORT)

The Charlotte Independence of USL have signed the Colorado Rapids’ draftee Brandon Fricke, the No. 83 pick overall. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these reports? Would you like to see RSL go for a big-name DP? Do you think Keane should hold onto the Galaxy armband?

Share your thoughts below.