Sports

Red Bulls’ need just $75k to buy Mac Kandji; reportedly sign Matt Mbuta

By BRIAN LEWIS

OK, here are some new tidbits on the Red Bulls’ new signings;

The Post has learned that the cost for the team to buy Macoumba Kandji at the end of this year’s loan spell is just $75,000, half of some of the higher estimates we’ve seen. That’s a good bit of business.

MLS paid Atlanta a loan fee of $25,000, and now the Red Bulls can buy his contract outright for the modest sum of $75,000. So they can get a trial run this year while they’re in need of forward help, and then but him for less than half of what Atlanta initially asked for.

“I can’t go into too many specifics; but generally, we have Mac on loan through this year and are able to take a closer look at him and have the option to purchase him by December 15 for next year. At that time, he would be on our roster and in MLS full-time,” Agoos said.

“We’re going to give him a good run the next couple of months and see if there’s enough interest for us to sign him next year, and we think so and we’re going along that course.’’

Despite Kandji having asylum status like Chivas USA’s Maykel Galindo _ the 23-year-old has been in the U.S. since high school _ apparently he’ll take up an international spot, unlike the Cuban defector. I’ll work on getting the story on that tomorrow.

Speaking of Tuesday, despite hurting his ankle a couple weeks ago, Kandji scored for Atlanta this weekend vs. Seattle and is expected to practice tomorrow. That’s when he can start working toward translating those 11 goals and five assists vs. USL defenses into production against tougher MLS squads.

“He’s got size, he’s got pace, he can finish: Those are the things you look for in a forward,” Agoos said. “There’s a lot of raw ability there and we’ve seen that this year in the USL. We want to see if he can do that at the next level and it’s a good opportunity for Mac to prove that he can.”

Agoos said the club has been tracking the 6-4, 175-lb. striker since Day One as one of a very short list, with Agoos watching film and both Juan Carlos Osorio and Richie Williams scouting him live. He said they’ve been negotiating solid for the past month, but didn’t feel this deal was any more convoluted than any other.

“Mac was on our short list really from day one in terms of when we were discussing this position,” Agoos said. “I think we were always working with the theme that he would be an option and one day be on our roster.

“We said a few weeks ago that we’d work up until the last minute to get the players we needed to get in and we’ve really done that. We’ve worked as a group together to identify and sign these players to hopefully make a final push for the playoffs and a championship run.”

And playing for silverware like MLS Cups and perhaps Super Liga _ and even dare we say CONCACAF Champions League _ is what Kandji wanted to do.

“The timing of this is unfortunate for our playoff hunt; but we had to take into account what this opportunity meant for Mac as well,” said Atlanta Silverbacks GM Michael Oki. “Mac and I spoke earlier in the season about his desire to play at the highest level possible. As much as we hate to see him go, we know this is what is best for him.”

And last but not least, multiple outlets are reporting that the Red Bulls signed Crystal Palace USA’s Matt Mbuta to a developmental contract and let 24-year-old Queens native Chris Megaloudis go to make room for the Cameroon U-23 National Team winger.