UPDATE (Jan. 19): The decision on Gaston Pereiro has entered extratime for FC Cincinnati. According to Sam Stejskal of The Athletic, the club's general manager, Gerard Nijkamp is giving the 24-year-old Uruguayan and his representatives "another 24 hours" to accept or reject the club's Designated Player contract.
Will FC Cincinnati land Gaston Pereiro as the second Designated Player signed during this transfer window?
Gerard Nijkamp, the club’s general manager, said on Thursday afternoon that the answer should come within the next 48 hours.
Speaking with MLSsoccer.com's David Gass on Extratime presented by Continental, Nijkamp provided insight into the negotiations with the 24-year-old Uruguayan who has been a regular for PSV Eindhoven since arriving ahead of the 2015-16 campaign.
“We have an agreement with PSV about the transfer fee terms and now we are still in negotiation with management of Gaston Pereiro to find also an agreement on the salary parts,” Nijkamp said. “Hopefully we can say hello to him in the next 48 hours here in Cincinnati.”
Should a deal fall through, Nijkamp said the club has identified other options to fill a void at the No. 10 spot.
“If in this 48 hours Gaston will not join the club, then of course we also have Plan B and Plan C because there are more good players in the world, in the market,” he said.
FC Cincinnati’s shopping doesn’t end there. Nijkamp said the team is in the market for a right winger as well as another No. 9 to compete with Brandon Vazquez and Rashawn Dally.
Paul Tenorio of The Athletic reports the club is expected to waive Fanendo Adi Friday, which would free up another Designated Player spot. Adi tweeted his farewell to Cincinnati Friday morning.
FC Cincinnati have already signed one Designated Player, bringing in Japanese international Yuya Kubo, who Nijkamp said could play four different attacking positions.
