About a week ago, Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey knew he’d gone “all in” on Paraguayan midfielder Derlis Gonzalez.
With just days to go until the international transfer deadline, it was too late for Lagerwey to start pursuing other impact performers worthy of designated player money as a fallback in case Dynamo Kiev star Gonzalez didn’t work out. But Lagerwey was reconciled to his all-or-nothing approach, even when talks over Gonzalez ultimately fell apart Wednesday: Feeling the Sounders already worthy of another run at an MLS Cup title.
So, when Dynamo Kiev wouldn’t budge on Gonzalez, Lagerwey refused to panic.