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CHESTER — Ernst Tanner’s goal this summer was to keep the Philadelphia Union’s nucleus together for another run at MLS Cup.
He did so knowing it might be the last window in which he’s able to do that.
It is looking increasingly likely, Tanner conceded in a wide-ranging discussion Friday, that the club could lose both Kai Wagner and Julian Carranza in the winter.
Carranza, the 23-year-old Argentine striker, was the subject of multiple European bids, including an offer of a reported $7.5 million from Greek club Olympiakos. Carranza has 26 goals and 13 assists in two MLS seasons and is up to 16 goals in all competitions this season, drawing lots of interest from the continent.
The possibility of losing Carranza led to the summer acquisition of Israeli international Tai Baribo, with an eye toward next year. While the best move for the club’s bottom line may have been to sell Carranza this summer, Tanner prioritized the on-field benefit of keeping him.
“I tried to hold the team together,” Tanner said. “It was always a miracle that we could do that for two consecutive seasons, more or less. But the more successful you are, the more challenges you face. We could’ve done a deal (for Carranza), without any question, but you always need to weigh up, what do you give up when you sell a player for a lot of money?”
Wagner’s case is less straightforward. When asked after the Union’s 4-1 win over New York Red Bulls last week, Wagner admitted this is likely his last year with the club. The Best XI left back will see his contract expire at the end of the year. He’s spent five years with the Union, making 129 starts with five goals, 37 assists (15 last year) and two All-Star appearances.
Wagner is not bashful about aspiring to play in Europe. Tanner said the Union offered a new deal in February and an improved offer before the summer window. Wagner’s 2023 salary of $701,000, is among the highest in MLS for an outside back, and Tanner indicated the club is bumping up against its salary ceiling at the position for a player who doesn’t project as a European sale candidate.
“The outside back positions are not the highest paid. That’s how it is,” Tanner said. “He is an excellent outside back, without any question, and that’s what we acknowledged already in what we’re paying and we would’ve improved, but we can’t go to hemispheres where we set the wrong tone.”
Wagner, 26, could join any club on a free transfer, which might improve his prospects, after a suitable offer for the player and the Union didn’t materialize in the last several transfer windows. He also could shop his services as an MLS free agent.
The door remains open to Wagner staying with the Union beyond this year.
“I think sometimes you need to be very happy with what you have instead of looking over to the other side of the river and the grass might shine a little bit brighter,” Tanner said.
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