Agree use of DP slot on Zimmerman is very questionable IMO. Appreciate the update. Thought you might be waiting for a Fire “Year-end Announcement” Gutman stays= lousy idea -why do you think this?
Held it down all season 💪 #cf97 pic.twitter.com/br65lqX4dS— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) October 19, 2025
Rumor-Bell made $135k this year and is looking for a pay raise. Played CB in the 3 back as well as LCB & LWB on a 4 back line. I'm told that Chicago Fire #CF97 is one of the teams interested in signing free agent Jonathan Bell and it could be his next stop.Bell started in 13 of his 21 games for the #Sounders playing LB &CB. pic.twitter.com/VgaeL0P8Vx— Niko Moreno (@ELROLONW) November 18, 2025
Free agent, domestic, likely low salary, fits in 3 CB formation = all good Question is - does he deliver the goods? Jonathan Bell may be interesting.
Not super familiar with him, impression is kinda like Rogers but probably better. He's 27 and got 13starts for Seattle
Gutierrez sale / Bogusz acquisition would be interesting. No real basis for saying this, just a random thought.
Im really not happy about losing Guti this year.... It better be some massive money... Or we keep him for one more year.
Yea, I'd prefer if Guti ran with us 1 more year...help the project that finally has momentum and take 1 more maturity step that could open more doors for him. Almiron had 17 goal contributions at 22 and 23 at 23 and scored a deal with Newcastle. Then again, if GGG isn't going to 'leverage' him, he probably should go ahead and take the opportunity now to play for a deep pocket LigaMX club. With Franco out for a while, you'd think GGG would not want to sell him until he returns. ....................Cuypers Bamba...............................Zinck ..............Guti...........Saletros .......................Dje Gutman....Elliott...?.......Barroso ......................Brady
You’d be selling low now anyway. Pete (would keep Guti another year on the off chance he does something to raise his value)
If there are multiple clubs interested, Fire may be able to obtain a good price for him now. Somebody mentioned $5 million, which is not chicken feed. Do not know what the right number is. If he is pushing to leave ( not sure he is), then Fire probably need to consider a reasonable offer. Bottom line- Greatest Acquisition Need for Fire currently is a DP CM because all indications are Gutierrez will be gone sooner rather than later IMO. Bogusz (or comparable ) would be a good fit. If Fire play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations, he would play #8/#10 hybrid or CAM. If Fire play 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3, he could play paired with Saletros as one of CMs. ( Saletros has played as DM for 56 matches in his career, including numerous starts as DM for recent national team matches.) Just a thought!
Not sure Bogusz is much of an upgrade over Guti Especially when you look at the fact Guti only hits the salary budget for $200k
Not promoting a sale, happy if he stays. Just looking more and like he will be gone. I have not seen a public statement by Brian or GGG saying he is not leaving despite more and more rumors. I previously said on multiple occasions that it is hard to know current intentions. But once he goes, his current low budget hit will also be gone and the Fire will need a replacement. I have researched Bogusz almost not at all. Lots of questions- Is he a good teammate? How good is he at assists? Could he be purchased on “reasonable” terms- both acquisition fee and salary wise. Is he durable? Can he press effectively for most/entire match? Was 2024 a career year never to be duplicated or is that his new level? What is the deal at his current club? Does he fit with Fire? I am sure GGG and crew would investigate him thoroughly before pursuing. I do know that LAFC sold him for $9+ million in 1-25 when transfermarkt thought he was worth $10-11 million. Transfermarkt has Brian at $5+ million, consistent with rumors of offers in summer 2025. His current salary is $2,000,000. He appeared in 90 matches for LAFC with 24 goals and 19 assists. Bogusz perceived to be a more versatile player, I do not know. He is shown as a CAM, secondary at striker also with matches at both winger positions. He may not be any better.
Not knocking Bogusz per se, just that if we are going to sell Guti I would want a clear improvement plugged in...and at the salary part 'matters'. Not sure where your 2mil number is coming from, the mls salary guide indicates $950k and because of HG & U22 tags he hits the budget for $200k...which is the number that really matters. I'm thrilled for Guti that clubs like Monterrey and America are interested in him, but even if they throw a big number (10+mil) at the Fire it probably doesn't make sense to sell right now. In that it is likely he will sell for as much (or more) in 6mo or a year and (because of roster rules) we will be hard pressed to find a player to add that contributes more for $200k budget impact. As mentioned earlier, the wild card is GGG's desired tactics and if there is a fit 'challenge'. GGG has done nothing but praise Guti, so I'd be surprised if he would not be looking for ways to leverage him. NOTE the 5-2-3 formation was (largely a) response to our inability to build from the back against a press. The 4-3-3 (with dual 8s) appears to be GGG's preferred formation, and the weakness has largely been RCB & CDM (plus some keeper and fullback 'just ok' play). D'je 'got better' but is still way too lackadaisical in front of the box. Waterman was an improvement over other RCBs but not exactly great with the ball at his feet. Brady made huge strides, but I still wouldn't consider him an 11th field player (and Gal sh!t the bed at it). Gutman and Dean...did ok. With Guit, Saletros, Franco and Oregel the dual 8s are stronger than all of the defense (Elliot being the arguable exception). Our attack is strong...defense needs evolution...keep Guti, add a top shelf CB and RB that is better than Gutman (think Alba, Wagner, Freeman). ......................Cuypers ...Bamba...............................Zinck ..............Guti.............Franco .......................Saletros Gutman....Elliott.......DP.......TAM .......................Brady ......................Cuypers ...Bamba...............................Zinck ..............Guti.............Saletros .........................D'je Gutman....Elliott.......DP.......TAM .......................Brady
You're also Guti biased. He got benched because he doesn’t fit. He has failed to ignite the squad for years. He’s great when he’s great but he currently absolutely cannot push us to win. If we keep him as a 70th minute sub it’s BAD for him. We might do that because currently there’s no formation we play that allows him to fully succeed. His best position needs to be clarified and then we can decide if that works here or elsewhere. It currently doesn’t work here right now.
"Benched" when we went to a 3-4-3 and Franco was lighting it up and the back line couldn't handle the press. NO WAY Rogers should be in the XI over Guti. He has clearly continued to improve and continued to have a larger impact. Looking back at the 'years' is silly, he was a scrawny up and comer that was expected to pick up for a loser DP that walked around pouting and destroying any build up. 100% agree. But I don't think the 3-4-3 is GGG's long term plan. Your anti-Guti bias is showing. He plays well in the 4-3-3 and it's clear he is 'of value'. The issue is our backline and CDM play...
Yea, no, I'm not in favor of swapping $950k (hitting for $200k) for $2mil (requiring DP tag) and getting similar (enough) contribution.
I would too. But things are apparently developing. We have no idea what the ceilings are for Barroso and Radojevic are at this time. Need that answer before we start expending limited Resources there. Also, not completely sure how well Elliott, Waterman and Rogers or just Elliott and Waterman, will mesh after another 10 matches. These decisions can wait. Given your interpretation of GGG’s remarks to mean “ Saletros plus 3 more additions”, it seems unbelievably easy to see that Fire has greater needs in event of a Guti sale - a backup striker who can score, a winger with prospects and, obviously, a replacement/ upgrade for Guti. In addition to Guti Sale GAM , this activity would likely require departures of Gasper, Gonzalez, (especially) Acosta, Kouame and Barlow in order to generate the Resources and Senior Roster slots needed. Until some activities happen and are made public, this is all conjecture.
I would love to keep Guti as a backup even if Franco was healthy. I think that works well with Guti and Maren off the bench as attacking options. But...I do understand Guti may want more...I would sell him if offered a ton (to make up the cap hit cheapness of Guti) but my wish selfishly is we keep him as starter in some formations or injury dependant and 'super sub' if not. Depth should matter. I love the idea of Dean and yes even Banana boy as deep depth situationally (though I thought Dean did fine even starting) but having a couple 'impact' types off the bench could be huge.
At this point...I would get rid of Acosta and Gaspar for sure money wise and frankly Gaspar has not done anything since coming. My one confusing move made by the Fire was Mueller. It's a...nice...extension/resign...but...is it worth it businessly/teamwise? I would love nothing more then him come back and play better then he ever has. A true rebound story. But...