PURCHASE, N.Y. – Former United States international Oguchi Onyewu completed his first full week of training with New York City FC, but Jason Kreis said there has been no decision yet on the 33-year-old central defender.
“It’s been interesting,” Kreis said. “He’s a really big body, and we’re looking to make some additions to the team in the summer. It’s a consideration.”
Charlton Athletic of the English Championship released the well-traveled veteran on May 12. He has also played for English sides Sheffield Wednesday and Queens Park Rangers in the past two years.
Kreis said the 6-foot-3 Onyewu, who has 69 caps with the US national team, will train with NYCFC for three more days. He does not need to go through the Allocation Process to enter MLS and would be able to join a team via the Discovery Process.
“We probably aren’t going to rush into anything,” Kreis said. “But who knows? We’ll see over the next four, five days how he does.”
NYCFC has also been linked recently with forward Didier Drogba, who will leave Chelsea in the summer, as well as Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who is also being linked to Liverpool.
Kreis declined to specifically comment on either player, but said he understands why NYCFC are so often part of the rumor mill.
“Anytime a big name, Designated Player starts to talk about interest in MLS and MLS being interested in them, the New Yorks, the LAs and the Torontos of the world are always going to be in those conversations,” he said.
One thing that is clear is Frank Lampard’s timetable to join NYCFC now that the English Premier League season is over.
“He’s going to have a two-week break and then he’s going to come here and train, so we’ll have him for three, three-and-a-half, maybe four weeks before he’ll be available to join us after our summer transfer window opens [on July 8],” Kreis said.
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That will give the midfielder a chance to get acclimated to his new teammates and to living in New York before competing in his first match.
“I think it’s going to be really important for us and for him,” Kreis said.
Kreis said he’s had numerous conversations with Lampard, who has kept tabs on NYCFC as he finished his final season in the EPL with Manchester City.
“We’ve kept in communication because obviously he’s going to be an important player for us, a big player for us,” Kreis said. “It’s been interesting because he’s been watching all the games.”
