Sports

Red Bulls have long wish list

Red Bulls GM Erik Soler addressed the media Tuesday regarding the team’s offseason plans, from the goalkeeping situation to much-needed defensive help to the possibility of adding a third star to team with Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez.

Soler said he felt there was a good chance to bring keeper Frank Rost back, most likely not as a Designated Player; and if that’s the case, the GM hoped to add an attacking midfielder this summer from one of Europe’s bigger leagues. He’d like to add some younger American players, sees centerback as the No. 1 concern, and picked up the option on Joel Lindpere while he tries to hammer out a multiyear contract extension.

“We hope to have a third DP this year,’’ said Soler, who implied it would be a likely summer signing because, other than Scandinavia and Russia, the bigger European leagues would be in season during the winter window. “We’ll look for someone able to direct our game, offensive midfield (the) most probable position.

“We want someone with high quality on the ball, who likes to move the ball around but has the ability to score their own goals. We had a very good record with wide midfielders Joel Lindpere and Dane Richards and our three attackers. We did very well, but we’re trying to add to that as well. It’ll be someone who has a record of scoring goals and setting other people up.’’

Though centerback Tim Ream has been training in England and a lot of fans are afraid he’ll end up leaving, and Marquez had reportedly piqued the interest of Atlas and many fans can’t wait to see the controversial Mexican go, Soler said both will be back with the Red Bulls next season.

“Tim is going to play for us next year,’’ Soler said of 24-year-old Ream, who has had training stints with both Bolton and West Brom. He added that Ream will benefit from training with the Premier League clubs, but that he won’t be going out on a loan, and neither will any other Red Bulls. “We have no plans of loaning any players anywhere.’’

That includes Marquez, who reportedly was a target of Atlas.

“I have not been approached by Rafa, or any other clubs. I had a long chat with Rafa; he’s not going anywhere, or asked to go anywhere. He’s coming back to start the season on Jan. 16,’’ Soler said.

And when he does, it will likely be as a midfielder. Though Soler was careful to point out that coach Hans Backe makes the personnel decisions or lineups and formations, he said, “I think both of us totally agree Rafa does his best job in the midfield.’’

That leaves Ream and Stephen Keel as the two most experienced centerbacks on the roster, with the loss of veteran Carlos Mendes. And, as Backe had said after the Red Bulls were ousted from the playoffs, centerback is their top priority.

“Our first priority is central defense. We’re working hard on (that), also looking at at a couple of other decisions, (to) try and see if we can do more in the offensive part of the ballpark,’’ Soler said. “There’s a good possibility we’ll have Frank back; we’re looking at couple of younger goalkeepers, including a couple of young Americans.

“I think Tim had a fantastic first year. He had some lapses here and there, what you’d expect. … Stephen Keel made fantastic impact, came from nowhere. We still need to be even stronger in the defensive part. As you know, we were not strong enough defending. We made a priority out of it because it’s important.

“Look at the winner of everything, (the Galaxy). They were winning 1-nil all the time. They scored less goals than us, but were able to keep 13 clean sheets. I don’t think they played more effective than us, but you need more than two central defenders.’’

And while they’ve monitored former second-round draft pick Jide Ogunbiyi, the towering centerback seems unlikely to be that player.