Australia NewsNewcastle Jets Sign South Americans |
Gary Van Egmond may field up to four South American players in the next A-League season, as the side vows for all-out attack.
Newcastle Jets fans disappointed at the loss of Columbian striker Milton Rodriguez can take heart in the news that the Jets are currently formalising contracts for two new South American players.Van Egmond has detailed his new players' playing backgrounds to au.fourfourtwo.com as well as stating that they may yet be joined by another pair, pending successful trials. At this stage however, it seems that three signings is most likely.
The players are 25-year-old Livio Prieto, Jorge Drovandi and the third is Brazilian Flavio Barros.
"We’ve got two players coming from South America and we’ve got another playing coming from South America who’s a striker who’ll be trialling with us who should get here next Wednesday. And then maybe, even one other…" he said.
With the loss of All White striker Vaughan Coveny, Van Egmond has been looking at attackers in the hope they will add flair to his side.
"There’s one player(Prieto) who’s coming in who has played under 20s for Argentina, played for Independiente with the likes of Diego Forlan and so on. He comes here with fantastic credibility.
"Another player is playing with Rosario Centrale in Argentina, and then another who’s playing in the second division in Spain. They’re going to be something which we don’t have here, which is why we decided to go to South America. The South Americans just give us something different in that last third with their creativity.
"One’s an attacking midfielder, one’s a left-sided winger/striker. And the other one is definitely a centre forward," he said.
There is a possibility that one of the players will be signed as a marquee player, with current star goalkeeper Ante Covic being moved to fit under the salary cap.
After resting his players through May, the Jets are now back training and Van Egmond was pleased in saying his players look "really refreshed. They seem a lot more forward than where they were last year."
Van Egmond expects his squad to be finalised by July 1.
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