With less than a week remaining before the MLS transfer window slams shut on September 2, several clubs are scrambling to make significant moves — and none more aggressively than Sporting Kansas City, who are undergoing a full-scale rebuild with two open Designated Player spots and a mandate from ownership that "money is not an obstacle."

SKC sits dead last in the league standings, but the club has been one of the most active in the market this summer. After a shock departure of leading scorer Dejan Joveljic to the Seattle Sounders for $6 million plus $3 million in General Allocation Money, the club immediately reinvested, signing Brazilian winger Andre Luiz for a club-record fee of $18 million. They also landed U.S. youth international midfielder Owen Wolff from Austin FC for $4.5 million, who will occupy a U-22 slot.

"We're going to be as aggressive and as bold as we can," sporting director David Lee told The Athletic.

The club is now in advanced talks to sign forward Paulos Abraham from Swedish side Hammarby, according to sources. The 24-year-old former Sweden youth international has 11 goals and three assists in just under 1,400 minutes this year. SKC also made an audacious attempt to sign Nico Fernandez Mercau from NYCFC in a potential $25 million deal, though sources said those talks are not currently active.

The shopping list is straightforward: a center forward and an attacking midfielder with those two DP spots. But one rival sporting director quipped this week that spending $12 million or more on those profile of players isn't as easy as it looks — many targets are in better situations at their current clubs or hold European options.

Colorado Rapids reloading on the front line

The Colorado Rapids are also making waves, finalizing a deal to sign Israeli international forward Sayed Abu Farkhi from Maccabi Tel Aviv for a $6 million fee. The highly-rated 20-year-old, who will occupy a U-22 initiative slot, exploded for 10 goals across all competitions in 2,477 minutes last season and has five goals in 401 minutes already this term.

Colorado remains aggressive in pursuing their top targets for a DP winger, sources say, as the club looks to immediately reinvest the $17 million guaranteed received in the deal that sent Lucas Herrington to Hull City.

Brazilian forward Rafa Navarro continues to attract serious interest from other clubs. Colorado has received bids in each of the last several transfer windows and had braced for his exit at some point in 2026 — but that hasn't happened yet. Abu Farkhi can ease into the team with Navarro seeing out 2026 in Colorado, or will be ready to take more minutes if a huge offer arrives. Either way, the Rapids want to be prepared, knowing Navarro may move on over the next transfer window or two.

If that departure comes, Colorado would have another DP spot open beyond Paxten Aaronson. The defense remains strong even with Herrington out, as Loic Williams has been an under-the-radar signing that settled in immediately.

St. Louis City targeting forward help during unbeaten run

St. Louis City is also looking to add firepower to their attack, riding a 12-game unbeaten run that has lifted them to sixth in the Western Conference under first-year head coach Yoann Damet.

The club has an open DP spot and aims to use it on a center forward if they can land a top target, while also working on other possibilities. St. Louis is pursuing American forward Damion Downs, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic. The 22-year-old is expected to leave Southampton this summer, and St. Louis hopes to bring him in on loan — though it would not use a DP slot to do so.

Downs spent the second half of last season on loan in the Bundesliga with Hannover after falling out of favor at Southampton in the first half of the year. He previously excelled with FC Köln in the German second tier during the 2024/25 season.

The profile St. Louis is seeking at center forward with the DP spot is an all-around player who can do more than just score and will lead the team's counterpress against the ball, sources say. It has been an eventful summer for the club, with DP attacker Carlo Holse joining as Marcel Hartel and Eduard Löwen departed.