Atlanta United president Garth Lagerwey has given a clearer indication of the club's transfer plans amid intensifying links with Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi.
Lagerwey faced intense scrutiny during a recent press conference regarding speculation surrounding Furuhashi, a player who a now-deleted Major League Soccer (MLS) article claimed they had already joined the Georgia-based club.
Just hours before Furuhashi was set to feature for the Scottish Premiership leaders against Dundee United at Parkhead on Wednesday night, the frenzy began when a story appeared on the MLS website claiming that Furuhashi had signed on as the latest designated player for Atlanta United.
This announcement sent shockwaves through both the MLS and Scottish football communities, sparking widespread debate about the potential transfer of the talented forward.
However, the excitement quickly turned to confusion when the MLS issued a prompt apology, stating, "Major League Soccer's website mistakenly posted an article that named the wrong player as having signed with an MLS club."
This clarification raised eyebrows and left fans questioning whether the Japanese internationalist, who has scored 83 goals from 161 Celtic appearances, will remain in Glasgow beyond the January transfer window.
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"There are fewer good players available in the winter versus summer," Lagerwey told The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
"But please don't misunderstand: There are good players available in the winter, and if we can get the two that we think are right, we'll get them now.
"What we won't compromise on is we won't sign a lesser player in an effort to do it quickly.
"In terms of the DPs (designated players), those are the big focus and can we get the right guys in by the start of the season?"
