With just over a week left in MLS’ transfer window, Minnesota United are finally being connected to incoming players, though not yet the DP/TAM-level attacking midfielder that Andy Greder teased last week.
The first name to emerge is Nectarios Triantis, a well-regarded 22-year-old who is technically a Sunderland player, though he made just five appearances for them over the last two seasons combined. The Black Cats loaned him to Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership in January of 2024 to finish out the season, then sent him back to Hibs on loan for the entire 2024/25 season.
Last season, Triantis started more games and played more minutes for Hibs than any other player, made the SPL team of the week three times, was nominated for the Scottish Football Writers Association Player of the Year award, and led Hibs to a Europa League berth for the first time since 2017/18. Decent year.
Prior to joining Sunderland, he won the 2022/23 A-League championship in his home country of Australia with Central Coast as a 19-year-old center back. Sunderland kept him in the same role, and Hibs did as well… for his first three games with the club.
In the subsequent 43 games, however, he has played as a CM/DM depending on the team’s setup; incredibly, Hibs used eight different formations last season, which muddies the distinction considerably.
His heatmap illustrates his role well: Irrespective of what the position was called, Triantis played box-to-box and sideline-to-sideline. With that kind of lateral coverage, his skillset should come as no surprise: The man can defend.
He had the seventh most interceptions and ninth most tackles in the SPL last season (as well as the 8th most fouls and fifth most yellow cards, but nobody’s perfect.)
Triantis would be a terrific signing for the Loons: He’s a high-volume defender, tall for his position and good in the air, plays multiple positions at a high level, and still has quite a bit of room for improvement given his age. It should come as no surprise then that he has quite a few teams interested in him, which complicates getting him to MLS.
Sunderland haven’t even fully committed to selling him this window as they think he could have a future with the club, even giving him 90 minutes against Rayo Vallecano in a friendly on Aug. 10. If they do, Hibs have made no secret that they wanted him back on a permanent deal, though that seems unlikely as of now. In the Championship, Derby, Portsmouth, and West Brom are all interested.
If Minnesota can get this deal done, it would be a coup. Triantis is highly skilled and could slot in this season and take pressure off Wil Trapp, then assume the starting role next season as he adjusts to the league.
Perhaps the biggest reason I think signing the “Aussie Rodri” won’t happen: His stated goal is playing in the Premier League, and it’s often easier for players to see the path from the Championship to the Premier League than from MLS back across the Atlantic.
Over the next two weeks, Triantis is expected to change club teams and finally decide on an international team to represent — he was called up to the Australian national team but left uncapped, which means he can still switch to Greece — and I don’t envy him the amount of uncertainty he’s facing. Wherever he lands, he’ll make a solid impact; I just hope he chooses to make it in Minnesota.