Reds turn to a Tigre in search of offensive bite
Toronto FC has acquired Lucas Janson on loan from Argentina’s Tigre, hoping the young South American forward will add to its offensive options. While the MLS champions have potent weapons in Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, Victor Vazquez and Canadian Jonathan Osorio, they have struggled to create at times — especially in the injury absence of Altidore (foot) and Vazquez (knee), who have missed a combined 24 league games.
The quartet has still accounted for 23 of Toronto’s 37 goals this season. Backup strikers Tosaint Ricketts, Jordan Hamilton and Ayo Akinola have five goals between them in limited playing time.
The rest of the midfield has contributed three goals.
Toronto FC had brought in Spanish midfielder Ager Aketxe to add more creativity to its offence, but the off-season acquisition — whose salary of $1.295 million ranked fifth on the team — never bedded in and was sent back on loan to Spain in July after just one assist in 11 league outings.
In landing Janson on the final day of the MLS secondary transfer window, Toronto says it has beefed up its attack.
“Lucas is a young, dynamic player that has the ability to play out wide, up front and centrally as an attacking midfielder,” Toronto FC GM Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement.
“We wanted to bring in a player that gives us multiple options in the attack and Lucas fits that need. We are excited to bring him in on loan and get him in- tegrated into the group.”
Video highlights show Janson to be an opportunistic, pacey forward, slick with his feet and good in the air despite his fivefoot-seven stature. But Aketxe also arrived with impressive video credentials.
Janson, who turns 24 on Aug. 16, offers a new set of skills, potentially as goal-scorer and playmaker.
He spent the last six seasons at Tigre, where he had10 goals and 10 assists in 82 league appearances.