Spencer makes six in Reds’ striker mix
Toronto FC solidified its already potent attack on Wednesday, with the chance of more to come up front.
The Reds re-signed 22-year-old striker Ben Spencer a little more than a month after declining his contract option. He made three regularseason appearances in 2017, recording two assists.
“We feel like we’ve still yet to see the best of Ben Spencer, and we brought him back because we think that he still has a lot to prove and he has something a little bit different in the way that he plays,” said general manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “He certainly has things to work on in terms of becoming a target player for us, but he does provide a little bit different . . . look than our other forwards.”
Details were not released, but Spencer earned $71,554.28 last year, according to the Major League Soccer Players Association.
Toronto scored a league-high 74 regular-season goals in 2017. Today, the roster lists six strikers: Spencer, Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, Jordan Hamilton, Tosaint Ricketts and Ayo Akinola.
Bezbatchenko is pleased with the personnel he has, but wonders if there is someone else who can push the group to be even better.
“I think hopefully that comes from sources within — Jordan Hamilton and Ben Spencer continuing to develop, Ayo Akinola breaking into the first team and getting some minutes in games — but we are looking for, possibly, one additional piece that can provide maybe a little bit of a different look and variety to our group.”
That said, the team isn’t necessarily targeting a certain position, like last year’s hunt for a creative midfielder, which ended with Victor Vazquez. This off-season, it’s about acquiring the best player within their budget.
Bezbatchenko declined to comment on reports linking TFC to Dutch defender Gregory van der Wiel and Italian midfielder Luca Rigoni. He did say no more signings are imminent, but hopes things start to come to a head next week when transfer windows close in Europe and South America.
Ideally, the GM would like to make any moves before their CONCACAF Champions League campaign starts on Feb. 20, but he knows that timeline might not be realistic.
“The most important thing for us is to not take shortcuts on our process because it has worked in the past,” he said.
“Over the long term, I want to get the player right. Some players, if not all players, we want to have on our roster for two to three years. The signings that we’re looking to make are not short-term players just to perform over the eight weeks of Champions League.”