The transfer window is now upon us!

A Happy New Year to all!!!

With the start of the new year, and all the fresh starts it brings, it all means that we are a mere 3 months away from the beginning of the new MLS season. We're also a little less than 2 months away from DCU and Houston playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, probably just a month away from MLS team training camps starting and then all the subsequent pre-season matches, 20 days away from the first USMNT game since the World Cup, and 12 days away from the MLS SuperDraft! Exciting, exciting!

But on to the thread title:

With MLS' new Designated Player rule ("DP"), this upcoming transfer window assumes much more importance domestically than before. Possibilities are endless and we are all a flutter with trying to figure our what big names which club is going to bring in.

MLS fans' collective eyes are most intensely focused on the New York Red Bulls. We all know that they were a big part of the push for the DP, they've got tons of money, and they have not one, but two, DP slots after trading Amado Guevara away to Chivas USA for theirs.

There is an extensive list compiled out there of possible transfer candidates. A name that can be crossed off is Luis Figo, who's supposedly going to Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad.

Claudio Reyna is a name that's been bandied about but it seems like he's content staying on and Man City for a little while longer. Paulo Wanchope is another name mentioned. Mr. Fish goes a little more in depth with the Red Bulls here.

The LA Galaxy will probably might make the most significant signing (at least from a PR perspective) with David Beckham. They hasn't received near the amount of interest like the Red Bulls have because this signing has been known about for so long while the Red Bulls are unknown plus they have two slots to fill.

People rag on Beckham a lot but I like him. If he does sign, I'll travel down to Dallas to go see him, which is what MLS expects everyone else with a mild interest in soccer to do when Becks plays near them. He's not a Christiano Ronaldo, just plain Ronaldo, or Ronaldinho, but he really is one of the best wide players to play the game and one of the best servers of the ball/free kick takers the game has ever seen. The chance to see someone pass the ball and send it into the box with pinpoint accuracy is so far an improvement over the current form, who wouldn't be excited about that?

As for all the other teams, who knows. Kansas City might surprise us. Word is, the new owners were also pushing for the DP spot. DCU plans on bringing in a Brazilian and an Argentine but neither will probably be their DP.

The only other team that might pay some big money for some is Chicago. Columbus sure won't, Houston doesn't need to yet, FCD probably won't, the Revs FO is too cheap, Chivas USA obviously traded their away, RSL just got Freddy Adu, and Colorado's coaching and FO is too inept to do it right if they do it at all. Toronto FC is a bit of a wild card. Who knows what they're going to do. My gut says nothing this season, or at least this transfer window.

As for non-DP signings, I've already mentioned DCU's South Americans. FCD maybe do something but what, I'm not sure. You might have to ask Buzz Carrick over at 3rd Degree.

Once the names start popping up and the signatures get placed on the dotted lines, I'm sure we'll talk about it and what impact when can expect them to have on their team and the league.

Until then, have a Happy, and safe, New Years!!!