With the 2019 summer transfer window opening on Tuesday, July 9, FC Cincinnati General Manager Gerard Nijkamp had no problem being honest in the club’s needs for reinforcements across the roster.
In a 30-minute conference call from the Netherlands, Nijkamp said the upcoming window will be a balancing act between acquiring and selling players to ultimately transform the Orange and Blue into the club identity the Dutchman wants.
“We are looking up front in a striker, but also we think we can improve in the winger position,” he said. “We hope to find a good left fullback, but more from the domestic market. We need to have more depth in that position.”
For Cincinnati to sign players, however, others will need to exit. The club’s roster is currently full, and players departing clubs is an unfortunate byproduct of transfer business across international soccer. Because Nijkamp wants personnel that fit his style of play, he mentioned those who don’t would probably be the first ones to see a fresh opportunity at another club.
On Tuesday, the Orange and Blue made their first summer signing when they acquired Dutch center back Maikel van der Werff, who last played for Vitesse in the Eredivisie.
Nijkamp said the signing should improve the club’s backline, while also adding another leader to the locker room.
“With his leadership and quality and experience, he will 100% help the team,” Nijkamp said of van der Werff. “Hopefully we can find two or three more players who can help the team. But we also we need to move some players who have not a future in FC Cincinnati. It is a combination.”
