OFFICIAL: Atlanta United trades Jamal Thiare to Columbus Crew for up to $300k GAM
The Senegalese forward has played his last game for Atlanta United.
UPDATE: Atlanta United confirmed the transfer of Jamal Thiare on Monday, February 2. Terms of the deal are as stated in the reporting summarized below.
The Columbus Crew are prepared to send up to $300k GAM to secure the service of Atlanta United forward Jamal Thiare in a move that could be finalized quickly, according to reports emerging Saturday.
Local independent journalist Michael Arace was the first on the scent with this post today on his website and social media:
Since that reporting, MLS Gold Standard and Distinguished Gentleman Tom Bogert has corroborated with his own reporting including financial details.
The trade makes sense for Atlanta given they are looking to create cap space to add a key player — likely a possession-oriented holding midfielder profile that Head Coach Tata Martino has been describing for weeks. Combined with Thiare’s $730k guaranteed compensation last season, the deal likely opens up close to $1 million for Atlanta to spend between the various allocation monies and salary space.
What is unexpected is that Thiare is the one leaving to create the space for Atlanta. High-salaried players like Stian Gregersen and Saba Lobjanidze are more obvious players that the club would be more interested in moving, but at this point it’s clear that a player like Thiare is more desirable than Atlanta’s out-of-form high earners.
Thiare was also absent from the team’s preseason debut Friday in which Atlanta United beat Lexington SC 4-0. Media were told he missed the game due to illness. In his absence (and Latte Lath who also missed the friendly), Alexey Miranchuk led the line for Tata Martino, and did so effectively, scoring twice and facilitating for others. I’m sure it’s not a primary option for Martino, but may give him a little comfort if he is to lose a traditional No. 9.
The move also underscores a broader roster-building principle of strengthening the team in defense and midfield. Martino probably feels like he can set the team up in a way, along with its DP attackers, that scoring won’t be the issue for the team this season. Chris Henderson was agressive last summer in securing CBs Enea Mihaj and Juan Berrocal, and stated publicly that the solution to more consistent team performances was to find consistency in goal prevention. From Tata’s perspective, he wants players who are not just “defensive,” but also quality on the ball so that the team can retain more possession in advanced areas and control the game with the ball.
"Up to" 300k Gam. Man feels like we should have gotten at least double for him. Feels like a bad deal for us. Am I crazy?
It seems like they’ll just flip the roster and continue to add South Americans, which I guess is fine if it works. Thiare had more goal contributions per 90 than Latte Lath last season. Our constant roster flipping always depends on the quality of our scouting department, which hasn’t been great. But it was a lot better with Tata during the last go around.