Are Philadelphia Union going in for 24-year-old Polish Striker, Karol Czubak?

We all know the Philadelphia Union loves to scout players who fit their particular system from lower-level European leagues. This is especially true under Ernst Tanner, and he will need to work those connections to find a diamond in the rough that could help Philly be competitive in a crazy close Eastern Conference in 2024. The margins between a top-four side, a playoff team, and a team on the outside looking in are razor-thin. Could Ernst be working that magic scouting a specific Polish striker?

Karol Czubak: 51 goals and 14 assists in 108 appearances in Poland’s second-tier league

Karol Czubak is a 24-year-old striker who stands at 6’4″. He plays for Arka Gdynia in Poland’s Fortuna 1 Liga, the second division in Polish Football. The tall forward has a knack for scoring goals in various ways, using both feet and his head well. Crafty runs in behind defenses and getting unmarked in the box have led to Czubak scoring 51 goals and notching 15 assists in 108 games for Arka Gdynia over four seasons.

With eyes on Poland’s Ekstraklasa Promotion Playoff this Sunday, June 2nd, it’ll be a pivotal match for one player in particular… Karol Czubak.

There’s MLS interest in the 24 year old 6’4” complete forward who has scored 51 goals and contributed 14 assists in 108 appearances… pic.twitter.com/BsOpdgln7K
— Mark Kelkenberg (@KelkenSport) May 31, 2024

His ability as a pure goal scorer has caught the eye of bigger clubs in Europe and MLS. It seems as though he has suitors (according to Mark Kelkenberg) who could sway Arka to sell him, should they not win a Promotion Playoff to make it to the top division in Poland. With MLS teams interested, it would be bonkers if the Union were not in for this type of striker.

Union, MLS — Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Union

A proven lower-league goalscorer available for $650K…

This seems like the type of win-win type of player who could help bolster Philly‘s ranks in attack. We all know that Julian Carranza seems to be on the way out either at the end of the year or this summer should Feyenoord want to pay for his services before his contract expires. Mikael Uhre has been streaky, and Tai Baribo and Chris Donovan are subs who are virtually not trusted to be starters for Philly. Adding a player like Czubak could be a good depth piece or a bargain replacement for Carranza.

We all know that finding goalscorers who are relatively unknown is hard to do in world Football, but Ernst Tanner has a track record of doing so in his career and doing so with the Union. Tanner’s first Union signing was Kacper Przybylko, he “broke the bank” to get Mikael Uhre to Philly, and used his bargaining brain to rescue Julian Carranza from Miami. Could Karol Czubak be the next low-risk-high-reward type of singing?

Only time will tell. However, I’m sure there may be some Union fans who will be paying attention to Sunday’s Ekstraklasa (Polish top division) promotion playoff final now. That match kicks off at noon on Sunday, Eastern Standard Time. Should Arka Gdynia fail to win, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Union is fighting to get this type of bargain player to come to Chester to join Philly in the July transfer window.