New York City FC: Is acquiring Albert Rusnák a real possibility?

There’s no doubt that Real Salt Lake’s Albert Rusnák is one of the best players in MLS, but is acquiring the Slovakian even a possibility for New York City FC?

The 2018 MLS season opener is just about a week away, but it looks like New York City FC still isn’t satisfied with their current roster despite being one of the most active clubs during the winter transfer window. According to ESPN’s Mark Ogden, manager Patrick Vieira is interested in acquiring former Manchester City Development Academy product and Real Salt Lake wunderkind Albert Rusnák.

ESPN is reporting that Patrick Vieira is trying to sign Real Salt Lake midfielder Albert Rusnak. Vieira worked with Rusnak at the City Development Academy in Manchester. https://t.co/pzELwldpOd
— NYCFC Nation ⭐ (@NYCFCNation) February 22, 2018

Rusnák isn’t a household name, especially here on the East Coast, but all MLS fans will get to know him pretty quickly if his rookie year is any indication. In his first season in MLS last year, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder established himself as one the league’s bright young stars, recording seven goals and an impressive 14 assists for the Claret and Cobalt. With that kind of success at such a young age, it’s easy to see why Vieira is interested in bringing his former academy product to New York. However, acquiring Rusnák would take some serious heavy lifting.

The Slovakia international currently occupies one of Real’s designated player spots, which makes it highly unlikely that the Claret and Cobalt would even entertain trade talks after making such an investment in the young player. In the slight chance that NYCFC is able to facilitate a deal, doing so could put the club in a bit of a financial hole. With all three of their designated player spots filled by David Villa, Maxi Morález, and the newly-acquired Jesús Medina, NYCFC would need to use a good chunk of their targeted allocation money to buy down Rusnák’s salary to get under the 2018 salary cap.

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If management finds a way to make it happen, there’s no doubt that Rusnák would be an excellent acquisition for the club, but there’s still a question as to where the midfielder would fit in. NYCFC already have a similar midfield playmaker in Moralez while Yangel Herrera, Alexander Ring, and possibly Medina are slated to occupy any remaining midfield spots.

Even if Vieira makes a formation change to expand the midfield, there will still be an odd man out or someone playing out of position. The only feasible way a move could work is if the club were to include one of those midfielders in the deal, but even doing so would be a tough sell. Herrera is on loan from Man City’s youth squad, Ring is too important defensively to trade away, Medina was just signed this offseason, and there’s no way Salt Lake would want the 30-year-old Moralez when the younger Rusnák plays the same role.

NYCFC fans really shouldn’t read too much into Vieira’s comments right now. There are way too many hoops the club would have to jump through in order to make a Rusnák deal a reality. But a lot can change between now and the summer transfer window.

Next: Assessing power of Red Bulls and NYCFC to join NYC royalty

If everything falls into place and New York City FC can bully Real into a trade for the highly-coveted midfielder, there’s no doubt that the Boys in Blue will pose the biggest threat to Toronto FC for Eastern Conference supremacy.

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