Chicago Fire GM Nelson Rodriguez promised that the club were in discussions to acquire at least one if not multiple European-based defenders. According to a report from Guillermo Rivera of Chicago Fire Confidential, the club who finished bottom of MLS last season are attempting to sign Lech Poznan defender Marcin Kaminski.

Who is Marcin Kaminski?

Kaminski is a 24-year-old defender for Lech Poznan, who play in the top division of Polish soccer. He appeared for the club 36 times over the course of the 2014-15 season as they claimed one of Poland's UEFA Champions League qualifying places, and has played on 21 occasions this term. The defender has also made four appearances for the Polish national team, and was a member of their squad at Euro 2012.

Why does Chicago need defensive help?

Chicago finished at the bottom of not only the Eastern Conference standings in 2015, but with the lowest points total of any MLS club. The Fire picked up just 30 points from 34 matches last term, 30 less than the Supporters' Shield-winning New York Red Bulls managed. Not only did they struggle to pick up points, but they hemorrhaged goals in defense.

Chicago had the worst goal differential of any team in the league in 2015 as well, scoring 43 times and conceding on 58 occasions, good for the joint-worst defense in the league. After the year ended, the Fire got rid of the majority of the defenders on their books, and before the MLS SuperDraft had merely four defenders on their roster.

What else might happen?

Rodriguez promised that help at the back was the Fire's chief priority this offseason, and would be hoping to bring in several defenders, with two from Europe as the top priority. On Monday, news emerged that Chicago had signed defender Michael Harrington and goalkeeper Patrick McLain

In the SuperDraft last week, the Fire took Brandon Vincent, Jonathan Campbell and Andrew Morell. Vincent and Campbell are already signed to contracts, and according to Rivera the Fire are on the brink of announcing the capture of another European-based center back. The Fire insider stated that the deal is all but done, but has yet to be announced because it hasn't been finalized.

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About the author
Liam McMahon
American sports journalist based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin who has been affiliated with VAVEL for more than a year. Co-editor of the soccer section at VAVEL USA and international football writer at VAVEL UK.