Gerard Nijkamp is well aware of the statistics when it comes to the prominence and success of domestic-born head coaches, technical directors and general managers within Major League Soccer.
As a native of Holland, Nijkamp has taken it as a challenge to not just succeed at FC Cincinnati where he serves as general manager, but to be one of the few European-born men to navigate the rules and salary-cap restrictions of the first-division league of the United States and Canada.
Nijkamp does this, he says, because he is ambitious, and wants to be able to look back on his time at the club knowing he contributed to a new project in a positive way.
Two upcoming tasks – rendering decisions on the expiring loan terms of Jürgen Locadia and Franko Kovacevic – are high-profile decisions Nijkamp will make in the coming weeks.
Those decisions will impact the 2021 season significantly and guide the club's maneuvering in the FIFA summer transfer window.
Nijkamp described FC Cincinnati's decision-making process relative to the expiring loan deals as being stretched out, with both players having three more games to potentially make a final argument on the field.
Both players also seem to be facing uphill battles in order to remain at FCC.
Locadia, on loan from the English Premier League's Brighton & Hove Albion since the 2020 preseason, will not have the purchase option on his loan exercised, Nijkamp said during a Thursday interview.
"I spoke last week with Brighton, of course, when I was there," Nijkamp said. "We will not exercise his option. That is clear, but the door is still a little bit open if there are other ways, maybe, to consider from our side to keep Jürgen."
Locadia's loan spell at FC Cincinnati has largely disappointed even as he remained popular among some supporters. He netted just three times in all competitions for Cincinnati over 23 appearnaces.
Locadia also ties up significant resources via his $2.5 million salary, designated player status and the international roster spot his occupies.
Still, his recent performances prior to the now-concluded international break were positive and gave some hope Locadia could remain at TQL Stadium.
Asked about Locadia's recent performances, including a goal in a May 22 match against CF Montreal, Nijkamp added, "That's the reason also I keep the door a little bit open and I hope my finance can find a way."
As for Kovacevic, he was likely out the door at FC Cincinnati after joining from the German Bundesliga's TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, a club FCC maintains a strategic partnership with.
Kovacevic has played just once for FCC, appearing in the 2020 regular-season finale. He's battled injury concerns this year and was likely headed back to Hoffenheim until winger Calvin Harris underwent a successful surgery Wednesday.
Harris will be absent for an estimated six-to-eight weeks, which consequently opened up a senior roster spot and an international roster spot. Those vacancies were filled by Kovacevic, giving him the necessary clearances to play for FCC.
"I think my decision was already made to send Franko back but now we can give Franko another three games' opportunity to show himself," Nijkamp said. "That is always the decision of the head coach but if he is on the roster for Saturday, if Jaap (Stam) wants to give him playing time but he will get these opportunities now, what was before not possible when Calvin was still in the roster ... I hope he is blowing everyone away because that makes my life easy."
More:FC Cincinnati: Calvin Harris undergoes successful surgery, set to miss 6 to 8 weeks
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Three matches remain for Locadia and Kovacevic before the loan deals reach their respective June 30 expiration date.
FC Cincinnati hosts Colorado Rapids Saturday before traveling to Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday and closing out next week with a June 26 game against Toronto FC in Orlando.
Speaking to Locadia's situation, Nijkamp conceded the window of opportunity was not in the player's favor considering the quick succession of the remaining games within the loan period.
"The door is not closed 100-percent but I think also it will be difficult," Nijkamp said of Locadia.
Nijkamp said Locadia, who last spoke to media members following the Montreal match, and Locadia's agent have been understanding about the situation.
"If Jurgen was scoring 10 goals, 12 goals then (it would be) for him very hard to understand why we have still the discussion about Jurgen staying or not, but that is not the case," Nijkamp said.
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