Breaking down RSL's summer transfer window with CSO Kurt Schmid

Real Salt Lake sporting director and chief soccer officer Kurt Schmid joined the podcast to break down the club’s most recent summer transfer window ahead of the push for the playoffs. (Courtesy photo, Real Salt Lake)

Real Salt Lake chief soccer officer Kurt Schmid has been busy the last few months, signing a designated player, adding U-22 talent, and negotiating a club-record transfer of a rising star from MLS to Ligue 1 in France.

When RSL returns to the pitch Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes, it will be the first time in 18 months that Colombian winger Andrés Gómez won’t be a member of the Claret-and-Cobalt. That’s because the the 21-year-old has been transferred to Stade Rennes in France as part of a club-record deal valued at more than 10 million euros.

In his place, Salt Lake brought in a littany of attackers. The most direct compensation was Polish U-20 talent Dominik Marczuk, who was named Young Player of the Season with Jagiellonia Białystok.

The headliner, of course, is Portuguese No. 10 and new Designated Player, Diogo Gonçalves, whom Schmid admits was sought specifically with striker Chicho Arango in mind as the club tries to build on its top-four place in the Western Conference and push for trophies as MLS resumes play following the now-annual Leagues Cup break.

“Coming into the window, we had two broad goals: raise our floor and increase our depth, and raise our ceiling,” Schmid said. “I think we accomplished both of those goals, even with the loss of Andrés. It may look different at times … But I think the quality that we have to bring into games has been raised. From that standpoint, I think we’ve improved our ability to compete for trophies.

“Obviously, that’s always relative and other teams have strengthened themselves as well. That’s why we play the games, and we’re going to go out there and compete.”

After settling one of the wilder transfer windows in club history, the Salt Lake sporting director sat down with Salt City FC after the close of a wild transfer window that included 5 additions and 3 departures from Utah.

But first, Schmid had to catch up on some sleep. After traveling across the globe and around several time zones, he deserved a nap, right?

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