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Defensive Reinforcements Imminent

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Revolution President Brian Bilello made two announcements Monday on Twitter, revealing the Revolution have signed two international defenders, though he did not reveal the names of the players.


Both players are centerbacks and both players were signed using targeted allocation money, implying both players will be the starting centerback pairing going into the 2017 season.

Targeted allocation money (or TAM) can be allocated to a player who makes above the maximum salary budget charge for a non-Designated Player. A player must earn more than $480,625 per year (the 2017 maximum budget charge) to quality for TAM, which is larger than the 2016 base salary of all but three players (Kamara, Kouassi, Nguyen) on the Revolution.

Each MLS team is allocated $1.2 million prior to the 2017 season, and it appears the Revolution are utilizing these resources to address the holes in the back line of the defense, which was a weak spot for the team last season.

Coming into the day, the Revolution were lacking true central defenders, with London Woodberry and converted right back Andrew Farrell as two of the most likely candidates at that position. The Revolution also drafted center back Joshua Smith in the fourth round of the 2017 SuperDraft, but have yet to sign the player. The lack of depth and utilization of TAM imply that the Revolution have their starting spots filled, even though the Revolution have not revealed the names of the players.

Bilello also stated on twitter that both players will be announced and will be in New England later in the week.

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