After selling Omar Gonzalez and Juninho to Pachuca and Club Tijuana, the LA Galaxy have begun the process of locating suitable replacements. That process began with the signing of defender/midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, and they're now continuing it as they look to secure the signatures of AC Milan midfielder Nigel De Jong (per ESPNFC) and Aston Villa defender Joleon Lescott (per Goal.com's Ives Galarcep).

Big hole to fill

Losing Gonzalez and Juninho leaves the Galaxy with a considerable hole in the spine of the team. Both players played critical roles in LA's MLS Cup triumphs in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Gonzalez was named the MLS Defender of the Year in 2011 and Juninho teamed up with Marcelo Sarvas to form arguably the finest central midfield pairing in MLS. However, now that those two have moved on the Galaxy must find suitable replacements.

Overhaul in progress

Given the fluid process involved with putting together an MLS roster, there tends to be a large amount of turnover from season to season for most clubs. However, a large portion of the core of the Galaxy's last title winning team is gone. Since winning the cup in 2014, they have lost Gonzalez, Juninho, Sarvas, Landon Donovan and Jaime Penedo, and last season the club lacked a coherent ethos. 

Juninho and Steven Gerrard didn't gel in the middle of the park in 2015, and although the club scored a lot of goals the defense was quite leaky. By attempting to bring in players of the quality of De Jong and Lescott, the Galaxy would be well on their way to establishing themselves as title contenders once again.

Nigel De Jong

According to Galarcep, the Galaxy are closing in on signing the 31-year-old AC Milan midfielder with Targeted Allocation Money. Given Gerrard's limited mobility nowadays, LA desperately needs a player right out of the De Jong mold. He has earned a reputation over his time with Ajax, Manchester City and the Dutch National Team as a hard-nosed, no nonsense player. Although under contract with Milan, he has appeared just five times for the first team this season, putting his future in doubt. He could soon find himself playing in the City of Angels.

Joleon Lescott

According to the good people at ESPNFC, Lescott is looking for an escape route from Villa Park. Although he has been a constant presence at the back for the Villans this term, he's been powerless to stop them from going 16 matches without a win. Now 11 points from safety, the Galaxy think that they can convince Lescott to leave the Midlands club. His form this term has been substandard, but his pedigree speaks for itself. 

After breaking through with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the mid-2000s, Lescott got a big money move to Everton. While there, he was called up by England for the first time, with whom he proceeded to make 26 appearances, including appearing in the 2012 European Championships. Additionally, he moved on from the Toffees to Manchester City, where he won two league titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup.

Whether or not these moves come to pass, it will be heartening to Galaxy supporters that the club is trying to make moves. With just under two months until their glamour CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal tie with Santos Laguna, now is the time to iron out the roster issues.