Inter Miami will reportedly use the Leagues Cup break to make an important signing that the Herons have needed for some time.
The Herons are about to embark on an unusual part of the season that might come as welcome break for the MLS Supporters’ Shield leaders, with All-Star week underway and the month-long Leagues Cup competition beginning this weekend.
Having won the tournament last year as Lionel Messi made his mark at Inter Miami in a big way, expectations are a lot lower this time around for the Herons in Leagues Cup, with the Argentine expected to miss a good amount of action due to an ankle injury.
Yet Inter Miami could now be using the break from MLS action to make a key signing.
Inter Miami to focus on center-back signings during Leagues Cup break
According to ESPN, Inter Miami plan to use Leagues Cup to increase their efforts to sign a central defender, with Messi returning to full fitness also a top priority for the Herons throughout the tournament.
With Inter Miami believed to be close to signing River Plate defender David Martinez on loan, work is seemingly being done to add to the center-back position, which is currently seeing Sergio Busquets fill in for the likes of Nicolas Freire.
Indeed, Inter Miami’s next MLS fixture does not take place until the end of August, with the Herons hosting Supporters’ Shield rivals FC Cincinnati in a game where the Florida side will want to take revenge against the Ohio franchise.
And if Messi can return to full fitness coupled with a defender or two being signed, Inter Miami can be in a brilliant position to surge to the Supporters’ Shield title in the final third of the season.
New signings could get Herons over the line in MLS
Inter Miami have changed the landscape completely in regards to how MLS teams can go about making new signings, and this summer could see more revelations based on who the Herons bring in.
With a plan in place to sign a defender, though, it’s clear that Inter Miami have their priorities straight, and bringing in the right place could be huge in the Florida franchise getting over the line in MLS.
The Leagues Cup break has arguably come at the right time for Inter Miami this season, and the Herons will need to use the time given correctly ahead of MLS restarting in late-August.