Photo: Ryan McElroy

On Wednesday evening, it was reported by Jose Nunez that Union II talent, David Vazquez, would likely be on his way back to the west coast. The Union are reportedly finalizing a deal to send the nineteen-year-old to San Diego on loan with an option to purchase.

In 2021, as a sixteen-year-old, Vazquez chose to join the Union academy over his hometown LA Galaxy academy. The attacking talent signed a professional contract in 2023 with the Union II, posting ten goals and ten assists. This season, Ryan Richter moved Vazquez to a more reserved double pivot role in 2025.

Vazquez earned his debut with the Union first-team at left back vs. the Indy Eleven in the US Open Cup earlier this season, and then had a 20 minute showing as a substitute in a more attacking role vs. Columbus Crew a week later in MLS play.

Emphasis on the spine

Vazquez is likely the most recent among a growing list of attacking midfield talent to be moved out of the team in the last calendar year. Jack McGlynn, Daniel Gazdag, CJ Olney, Joaquin Torres, and Andres Perea are the other names to depart in the last 365 days.

Indiana Vassilev and Ben Bender have been brought in at the position to varying degrees of success. However, considering the Union’s apparent lack of experienced depth at the “10,” paired with Cavan Sullivan’s reported stint in England with Manchester City for the next two weeks, these moves certainly limit the attacking depth Carnell can call upon.

The Union’s focus in recent transfer windows has been down the middle. Given the Union’s success in the narrow width exhibited in Bradley Carnell’s game models, this does make sense.

Central midfielders Danley Jean-Jacques and Jovan Lukic were brought in to add a little bite in the midfield. Danley’s arrival last summer preceded Lukic’s, however, the Haitian didn’t quite round into form until being deployed in the double pivot next to Lukic.

Center back Ian Glavinovich was brought in on loan after the departure of Jack Elliott in the offseason to help shore up a defense that conceded 1.6 goals per game last season. Even though Glavinovich has missed much of the season with a knee injury, the talent he exuded in his limited minutes was apparent, with his display of athleticism and strong ability on the ball.

Lastly, the Union’s record signing, striker Bruno Damiani, joined just before the season began. His arrival has added a level of grit up top that has rounded out the team’s solid spine under Carnell. His pressing and willingness to throw his body around in the press has been welcome in Carnell’s high-octane system.

All of these arrivals have hinted at the value Ernst Tanner and company put in building out the spine of the team. Does that mean the team don’t value attacking midfielders as heavily? It is tough to say. But based on the dollars in vs. dollars out in the wide areas, the Union’s weight placed on function over form – if not already obvious from years of no frills football – has been made even more apparent.

Will another shoe drop?

In just two weeks’ time, the Union have lost two more players at the position for the long-term. Considering the Union had been supplementally stocking the ten position with academy bodies, these moves come as an eyebrow raiser.

This is not an indication that the Union are moving on from Olney and Vazquez entirely. Just that, in the short-term, the Union have other plans.

Philly will be heading into a match vs. Colorado on Saturday with just Quinn Sullivan, Indiana Vassilev, Ben Bender, and Markus Anderson as options who have experience with the first team. The lack of bona fide options, in a position that Carnell’s system pushes to a fitness limit, is a clear concern from the outside looking in.

Now, with the Union’s overall depth at attacking midfield dwindling heading into a transfer window, it is worth a ponder if Tanner sees an investment in a legitimate attacking midfield talent as prudent. Even when Cavan Sullivan returns from his training camp in Europe, will his presence be enough to put the Union in a position to make a run in both the US Open Cup and MLS playoffs?

Transferring out young attacking midfield talent before they get a shot with the first team certainly sends a conflicting message. Especially considering the importance the Club has put in developing academy talent in-house.

Are the Union just exuding the lack of value they put into the attacking midfield position? Or are the Union stock-piling space and resources to make a move for an attacking talent in the transfer window?

History would tell us that it likely isn’t the latter. But a pleasant surprise in the transfer window would be a nice cherry on top of the success the team have had this season.