Rumor: News/Rumor: 2026 Chicago Fire Roster Speculation

Discussion in 'Chicago Fire' started by willydonc, Aug 17, 2025.

  1. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Update- I have always enjoyed watching Weston play and thought he would be a good addition. I never really researched him until now. He has an absolutely terrible injury history.
    Complete 180 degree turn for me. Forget him. Period. He is too “unlucky”.
     
  2. go fire

    go fire Member

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    Oct 8, 2023
    I think we all can agree Franco played a key roll of getting the Fire into the playoffs. But why bring a "loaned" player back if Guti or Kouame can fill his position. Or if they can't fill Franco's shoes, go get a veteran DP in the off-season to play with Dje. Don't hope a 28 year old coming off and ACL tear will have the quality of the previous s season. Go get somebody.
     
    goldclover repped this.
  3. bunge

    bunge BigSoccer Supporter

    Oct 24, 2000
    Weston is my favorite USMNT player. He need to stay abroad to stay disciplined.
     
    goldclover repped this.
  4. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLS Players Association released the list of players eligible for free agency. A lengthy list -over 160. This is first year players aged 24 with at least 4 years MLS experience are eligible. Roughly 20 center forwards on list but only 4 whose contracts completely expire. In other. cases, the team has an option to extend.
    Not sure if there will be any good prospects for Fire.
     
  5. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    Oskar Pietuszewski would be a great u22 initiative signing. 17 years old and already valued at $9mm.
     
    goldclover repped this.
  6. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Link to the full list is here:

    https://mlsplayers.org/news/2026-free-agent-list

    Fire Players:
    Chase Gasper
    Jack Elliott (Pending Option)
    Omar Gonzalez (Pending Option)
    'mighty' Tom Barlow (Pending Option)

    We must re-sign Elliott and we should not sign the others.

    I took just a quick look and if we could get Mikael Uhre for Non-DP money, I would do it.
    I imagine that he would probably return to Denmark or somewhere.
     
  7. overlap_old_coach

    Chicago Fire
    United States
    May 2, 2022
    I will not be surprised if Elliot and Barlow are resigned.
     
  8. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    I think they will pass on Barlow. Elliot is guaranteed to be picked up.
     
    schroncar repped this.
  9. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #409 schroncar, Oct 3, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2025
    Uhre is very interesting. Out of contract and feeling under appreciated/ odd man out.
    He is 31 and highest paid player at cost-obsessed Union. Described as great team player by some and as lacking in urgency by others. He is noted for few touches which may explain some comments. Lots of desirable skills and is noted for his speed, aerial ability and scoring. Appears reasonably durable.
    I think xtomx highlighted 2 biggest obstacles. Does he want to return to Demark?
    His current total compensation is $2,240,000. He is valued at over $3 million by Transfermarkt (free agent but substantial market value gives him leverage for signing bonus or higher salary). Seems unlikely he could be acquired on TAM terms.But….
     
    xtomx repped this.
  10. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Eerily quiet today. Everybody must be in mourning over Franco. Really deflating me.
     
  11. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Mueller and Franco out for season. Radojevic, Barroso and Gonzalez out for next match minimum. Elliott only one yellow away from suspension. Cupps going to U17 training camp held Oct 6-15 w/three matches scheduled - 10-9, 10-11 and 10-14.
    Hope he returns without new injury. Fire play 10-4 and 10-18.
     
  12. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Understand but no thread started for next match yet and this was an active thread with a similiar topic, not something inflammatory and totally unrelated.
    Where do think it should have been?
     
  13. Mac97

    Mac97 Member+

    Jul 15, 2014
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Are we sure Waterman's paper work is good?
    Oh, wait,.....forget it.
     
  14. hollowfish

    hollowfish Member

    Chicago Fire
    Croatia
    Aug 29, 2007
    Highland Park IL
    Nat'l Team:
    Croatia
    thankfully modern science has made these sort of injuries have a much smaller impact on performance recovery…it’s amazing
     
    bunge repped this.
  15. Pennsylvania Dave

    Jul 31, 2012
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
  16. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fire have two players (Franco & Kouame) on loans ending soon with options to purchase on (apparently) already negotiated terms. Both of them have potential to be TAM-level starters, so the right decision is important. Franco’s injury and Kouame’s minimal playing time make the decisions even harder.
    Other Fire player activity between now and 2026 Roster Deadline date can impact these decisions.
    Does anybody know when these loan options expire?
     
  17. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    Some Mexican outlet is saying Bogusz to Fire is a done deal.
     
  18. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    He was quite good for LAFC.

    Let's hope that is not a bogus(z) report!
     
  19. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    He had Zinckernagel stats.
     
    xtomx repped this.
  20. Some others are saying this report is click bait.
     
    xtomx and schroncar repped this.
  21. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And nothing lately. But I think there was an injury. Have not checked him out but know he would be expensive.
     
  22. schroncar

    schroncar Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Mar 2, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Kinda smells like sun-ripened agent baloney.
     
    willydonc repped this.
  23. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    15 goals, 7 assists in 2024.
    Not quite Zinckernagel stats, but damned good.
     
  24. milicz

    milicz Member+

    Dec 2, 2001
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    Poland
    sketch-1761407846982.png
     

    Attached Files:

  25. xtomx

    xtomx Member+

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    #425 xtomx, Oct 25, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2025
    I was just looking the MLS on LAFC's website.
    Thanks for the additional info!
    Strange that this site is different that the LAFC site.
     
    milicz repped this.

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