

(WJFK — CBS Radio)

*D.C. United is close to returning to the English-language radio waves.

After five years away, United is in the late stages of negotiations with WJFK, 106.7 The Fan for live coverage of regular season matches, the Insider has learned.

Station officials did not want to comment. United did not immediately respond to questions about the imminent deal.

WJFK — home to the Washington Nationals, Wizards and Capitals — would provide a major platform for United, which, after the 2009 season, dropped coverage on 1050 AM and remained on Spanish-language stations only.

In case of scheduling conflicts, United matches would be heard on WJFK’s AM outlet (1580), which has a weak signal at night, and on the station’s HD feed. When games overlap, the AM station would carry United’s game from the start and the FM station would join in progress.

The team and station are in the process of determining the announcers and working through other details.

United is also planning the local TV schedule with Comcast SportsNet, which has carried DCU matches for all but one season since 1996.

*United will conclude the Florida stage of training camp Wednesday with another encounter against Chicago. While Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the Fire was a formal friendly at IMG Academy, the second meeting in Bradenton is closer to a scrimmage. The Fire plays Tuesday night against Orlando City. The Chicago-D.C. kickoff is at 10 a.m. and, unlike United’s first two preseason matches, MLS will not provide a live video stream. The D.C. delegation is scheduled to return to Washington later that day.

United, the league’s lowest-scoring side last season, was also shut out in the preseason opener, 1-0, by Toronto FC last week.

With a dozen new players, Coach Ben Olsen is preaching patience.

“We’re still getting to know each other out there,” he said on the club’s postgame web video. “Balance is going to take time and the rhythm of how we are going to play is going to take time, but we’ll get there. It’s not going to happen overnight.”

Olsen’s starters Saturday: Bill Hamid in goal; Sean Franklin, Bobby Boswell, Jeff Parke and Cristiano Fernandez across the backline; Nick DeLeon on the right wing and Fabian Espindola on the left; Perry Kitchen, Jared Jeffrey and Davy Arnaud forming a triangle in central midfield; and Eddie Johnson at striker.

Olsen made 12 changes during the game.

Chris Pontius, Chris Korb, Casey Townsend, Nana Attakora and Lewis Neal did not play because of injuries or injury recovery.

*Fernandez played despite injuring a hand in Friday’s practice, his first session since arriving from Spain. He is wearing a cast that stretches a few inches beyond the wrist and will undergo further examination upon returning to Washington.

*United will unveil the new uniform design Saturday during an event for season-ticket holders at Pinstripes in Georgetown. The club, however, has yet to finalize a sponsor to replace Volkswagen, so for the time being, the front of the jersey will remain blank. At the gathering, United will also show updated renderings of the proposed stadium at Buzzard Point.

*Video from the Chicago match: