Analysis: Potential midfield transfer targets for Nashville SC

Nashville SC are one month away from the start of the 2026 season. The squad is currently based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where they'll begin preseason games next week.

Although the preseason is in full swing, the transfer window is still open. Although dates haven't been officially announced yet, the window typically runs through the end of March, giving the club time to assess needs and improve the roster even after the season begins.

Here at SixOneFive Soccer, we're taking a look at several players who could be a good fit for what Nashville need. Please note that this is not confirmation that Nashville is interested in signing these players or actively engaged in negotiations in any way, shape, or form. We're simply looking at the type of player that could be available for Nashville SC. This is a purely theoretical exercise.

When Nashville do sign a player, you can be sure to expect full coverage and breakdowns of the move from us, as always.

Let's dive in!

The midfield still needs help

Nashville's midfield is still the most glaring hole in the roster. Currently, there are four midfielders on the roster — Eddi Tagseth, Patrick Yazbek, Matthew Corcoran, and Bryan Acosta. Isaiah Jones has been loaned out to Chattanooga FC for the season, but he didn't play a minute last year, so his departure makes little impact.

There's a Gastón Brugman-shaped hole in midfield after the MLS veteran's contract option was declined this winter. He made 28 appearances (16 starts) and played 1,700 minutes in all competitions, but couldn't consistently break into the starting lineup, and by the end of the season was firmly behind Tagseth and Yazbek in the starting duo.

While his on-pitch impact was disappointing, his profile is crucial to this team. Yazbek and Tagseth are a fantastic buzzsaw duo, but their primary impact is off the ball. Nashville don't currently have a midfielder who can consistently impact the game as a playmaker from deep, and Brugman excelled in this area. Especially as teams become more familiar with how Nashville play, expect them to sit in a lower block at Geodis. This will make a steady ball-progresser absolutely crucial.

Corcoran fills this void to an extent, and part of the danger of signing another midfielder is adding a roadblock to his playing time. But it's a risk to go into the season without more of a playmaker profile, and it significantly lowers Nashville's ceiling.

With that being said, here are several midfield options who have a similar profile to Brugman, but are younger and should be able to get on the field more consistently. Many of these would be in the Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) range, meaning their budget charge is above the $743,750 limit and requires TAM to buy it down. Many would also require an international roster spot. These are listed in some loose order of fit and likelihood.

Niko Tsakiris

Niko Tsakiris is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young Americans in MLS. The San Jose Earthquakes academy product is a dynamic passer, able to play in a box-to-box or more advanced midfield role.

While he's not quite the same profile as Brugman — he's less comfortable at dropping between the center backs and pinging the ball forward — he is adept at breaking down a low block, and would fit the mold of signing and developing young players from other academies who may not have a clear path to MLS minutes in their current teams.