SALARY CAP MAKES IT HARD TO ADD A STRIKER

Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer said the team is looking for a striker to replace the injured Josef Martinez, but said the MLS salary budget is among many obstacles to the search.

Martinez suffered a torn ACL in last week’s win against Nashville. Atlanta United will host Cincinnati on Saturday.

want to try to get him but don’t want to make a rash decision,” de Boer said. “We are looking very sharply at the market for a player that is suit- able for us, but we have to deal with the salary cap that has a great influence. All combined it makes it not easy.”

Atlanta United is thought to have one spot remaining on its senior roster.

The team has one striker, Adam Jahn, who played last year for Phoenix and scored 17 goals in USL. The team has also reportedly signed former Columbus player J.J. Williams.

De Boer said he’d like for the team to sign a striker whose skill set more closely resembles Martinez’s because he’d like to have the versatility. Jahn is a taller striker who keeps thing simple but effective, according to de Boer.

“We need two weapons and not the same type of striker,” de Boer said. “It’s not so easy to find strikers like that. To replace Josef is a very big task.”

De Boer said the team would also consider taking a striker on loan, which makes financial sense because, he joked, that the good strikers don’t come for $10.

“You have to put a lot of money and we don’t have that,” he said. “The salary cap limits us. We have to be inventive. Hopefully we can find one.”

There is no date for surgery scheduled yet for Martinez, de Boer said.

De Boer said many decisions must be made, includ- ing the doctor that will per- form the procedure and the type of surgery.

“We will look at all the options and make the right choice,” de Boer said.

Castro, Rossetto set to join team: Midfielders Manuel Castro and Matheus Rossetto are in Atlanta and hope to train with Atlanta United today ahead of Saturday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Castro has yet to train with the team because he has been working to secure his visa. Rossetto last week flew to Brazil to secure his visa.

De Boer said Castro looked fit and is eager to start for his new club. He is on loan from Estudiantes in Argentina. Atlanta United has an option to purchase the player’s rights.

Additionally, centerback Laurence Wyke has signed with the club as a first-team player on a one-year deal. He will take up an international slot. Atlanta United is believed to have had just one slot remaining. The club can trade for one. Last week, the team said Wyke signed a four-day deal. That was a miscommunication from the club. Wyke played the second half of last week’s win against Nashville.

Centerbacks Franco Escobar and Miles Robinson and fullback Edgar Castillo (rib) won’t be available Saturday. De Boer said Escobar suffered a “dead leg” issue in last week’s win at Nashville. Robinson, who suffered a quadriceps strain in a friendly, has resumed running.

“He’s looking good and making good runs,” de Boer said. “Hopefully in the coming week we will see him more on the pitch.”

Fullback George Bello will be on the bench Saturday. He wasn’t available last week after suffering a concussion in a friendly at Birmingham. De Boer said Luiz Fernando and Anton Walkes are in the running to start at left fullback or wingback.

KEVIN LANGLEY / CSM VIA ZUMA WIRE Nashville’s Anibal Godoy (left) moves the ball down field as United forward Adam Jahn tries to stop him during the teams’ MLS opener Saturday.