Entering 2023 the Colorado Rapids front office had targets for positions of need, notably for at goalkeeper, center back and left back.
It is increasingly looking like Colorado could lock in all three positions by the end of the month.
The Rapids are “working toward” finalizing a deal to permanently acquire left back Alex Gersbach from French second-division side Grenoble Foot 38, league sources confirmed to The Post on Wednesday.
The sources did not share the length of the deal with The Post, but French outlet Métro-Sports reported that the transfer fee would not be large since his contract is set to expire at the end of the Ligue 2 season in May.
Gersbach is a 25-year-old Australian international, who has played for Sydney FC in Australia, as well as clubs in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and France. It’s currently his second stint in the second division, where he has made over 50 appearances, 42 of which have been for Grenoble, a team located at the base of the French Alps which he joined in the summer of 2021. He has also made six national team appearances for the Socceroos dating back to 2016.
This season he has played in 19 games, starting 18. He has totaled more than 1,400 minutes and has one assist and has been on the pitch for 10 team shutouts.
The French outlet reported that Grenoble was willing to let Gersbach go because the team recently brought in a defender, which created a logjam at his position. Métro-Sports’ Grenoble beat reporter Frédéric Sougey described Gersbach as a hard-working player who has “a very good left foot (crosses and set pieces) and has a great state of mind.”
Colorado has been very active since the European transfer market opened at the start of January, as the Rapids have already acquired midfielder Connor Ronan from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, and are close to finalizing deals for Danish center back Andreas Maxsø from Brøndby and Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz from French top-flight team Stade de Reims.
The left back position has been Colorado’s most glaring area of need, as the team lost Auston Trusty last July to Birmingham City in England, while Lucas Esteves’ loan came to an end. He is now with Fortaleza in Brazil’s top division.
Last year, Rapids head coach Robin Fraser relied at times on 35-year-old veteran Steven Beitashour, who signed a one-year-deal for the 2023 season in December with an option for 2024. Adding additional firepower for a player in his prime could be a significant addition considering the length of the season and lack of depth at that position.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
