CF Montreal turns to trade market ahead of crucial homestand

With CF Montreal off to their worst start ever in Major League Soccer, something needed to change ahead of a three-game homestand beginning Saturday against D.C. United.

Still rebuilding from an off-season that saw it sell or trade several key players, Montreal has lost five games (all on the road) out of six, fallen to last in the Eastern Conference and scored only three goals to start the season.

Montreal sporting director Olivier Renard realized the team needed depth up front, and made a deal to address that on Wednesday. But change isn't cheap.

Renard sent all-star centre back and Canadian international Kamal Miller (as well as $1.3 million in general allocation money) to Inter Miami in exchange for promising young midfielder Bryce Duke and winger Ariel Lassiter.

The move is both one for the future and to address the immediate concerns of the club.

"I like Duke, we were in touch with Miami for two or three months, but they rejected our offers. We're going to let him grow but he needs to earn his spot, he won't be an immediate starter because of his transfer value," said Renard on Thursday.

"I know Ari well from when he played in Costa Rica where he scored many goals. He can play on the left or as striker and with the injuries we have, we needed to react."

There is hope within the club that Duke and Lassiter will bring an increased sense of balance to a squad that's had its depth issues exacerbated by injuries in both the midfield and the attack.

With star striker Romell Quioto returning to Honduras to nurse an injury picked up against the New England Revolution last week, the active players in the squad ahead of Saturday's match have collectively scored just one goal.

One of the reasons for a lack of goals stems from