Maxime Chanot should come home to NYCFC | OneFootball

It might be time to have a conversation about the New York City FC defense. No, it is not about the full-backs, for they have been solid for the most part. Matt Freese also continues to prove why he was the team's MVP in 2024.

Rather, the issue at hand is the central defense. Thiago Martins will sometimes make awful mistakes and was a major reason why NYCFC lost their match to Atlanta United FC a few weeks ago. Then, he almost allowed the Philadelphia Union to score this weekend when he gave the ball up in the defensive third. Fortunately, Justin Haak, who started over Birk Risa, blocked a shot that probably would have gone in the back of the net.

Truthfully, Risa is a decent center-back, but he is not one of the better ones. He and Martins have had too many instances where they have not done their job properly. Then, Strahinja Tanasijević is the only true center-back backup player, excluding some of the younger players who need more experience. The Serbian seems better this season, but he was poor in 2024.

NYCFC should inquire about Maxime Chanot

With the primary transfer window closing in about a week, NYCFC has limited time to make any adjustments to their backline. But there is one player the Pigeons should hopefully have in mind who could easily help the team and knows the club very well.

That player is Maxime Chanot. He currently plays for Los Angeles FC and might not want to return since the California side is more competitive in 2025 compared to the Bronx team. Nick Cushing, who was rumored to be a major reason for his departure, might be gone, but who knows whether there were others in the club that led him to leave.

If there is no issue, then NYCFC should inquire about bringing Chanot home. The former captain is loved by the fans and can still play in Major League Soccer. He had an injury that kept him out of the earlier part of the season, but he made his first start over the weekend. Plus, LAFC has center-backs who can start.

Chanot could easily partner with Martins or Haak and bring back competition to the center-back position. He knows some of the players as well, for he only left in the summer of 2023. More importantly, he would bring back consistency to the backline. And, he would be threatening on set pieces, which is something the team misses with Martins and Risa.

So, how could Chanot return to the Pigeons? The club would have to trade for him. They could utilize a cash-for-player trade or use General Allocation Money. They could also do a like-for-like swap, with Risa being the likely choice. LAFC would still get a good depth player, for the center-back has proven he can be utilized in that way.

Also, Risa and Chanot's contracts end this year, with Risa having an option for 2026. Neither move would hurt either team where they are taking on a big contract.

Could Chanot come home to NYCFC? It is a possibility. But would either he or the club consider such a move? That is another question entirely.