The club’s top boss alerted his general manager Wednesday afternoon.

“The email just arrived,” Toronto FC president Bill Manning said, referring to Tosaint Ricketts’ International Transfer Certificate.

Like a fly on the wall, the Toronto Sun was in the midst of a call with general manager Tim Bezbatchenko when electronic word arrived.

The Reds unveiled their newest attacker a few hours later, in an effort to restock ahead of a crucial — season-defining, perhaps — four-game homestead.

Jozy Altidore is expected to play a part Saturday against D.C. United, too. The U.S. international has been sidelined since the middle of May with a reoccurring hamstring issue.

“We’ve taken a 360-degree approach and have turned over every rock (during Altidore’s recovery),” Bezbatchenko told the Sun.

Nutrition. Weight. Sleep. Biomechanics. Gate analysis. Quad-to-hamstring ratio. Specialists in Los Angeles.

The Reds have looked at literally everything.

There’s no hiding the fact they need him. Altidore was massive in helping TFC win three of four games prior to suffering the injury in a loss to Vancouver on May 14.

“Going back to before the injury, I thought he was playing really good soccer,” Bezbatchenko said of Altidore. “He wasn’t scoring goals, but we thought he was contributing.

“He was drawing penalties. He was helping the team however he could. We think we’ve learned some things along the way that we hope will prevent injuries down the line.”

It’s like getting a new player, Bezbatchenko added. It will be the same when Michael Bradley (knee), Will Johnson (knee) and Clint Irwin (quadriceps) return in early August.

“When you visualize our roster with everyone healthy, are there moves we can make to improve?” Bezbatchenko started. “We’re talking to players and teams right now.”

Confirming Ricketts this week filled out the striker position. Now, attention turns elsewhere.

“We need an attacking midfielder who’s going to chip in four or five goals and four or five assists — especially when your top two scorers aren’t scoring as prevalent as they were,” Bezbatchenko said.

Toronto’s GM added: “But it has to be the right fit. We’re not in a position where we think we need to upend any of our roster. We think our roster has matured.”

When approaching full health, the Reds are among the best in the East. Heck, they’re two wins out of second place — with a game in hand — despite playing two-thirds of their games away.

But now they have a decision to make. Should they target a long-term project or an attacking midfielder who can make a difference — maybe short-term — right away?

“There’s a balance,” Bezbatchenko explained. “The guy you can get with our budget space is maybe more of a project. If you go to Argentina, those players take time to adjust to MLS.

“Or, do we need a player to step in and play right now? That’s always the decision a GM needs to make: Do we need a short-term fix or a long-term project?

“We’re definitely talking with MLS teams. I think those deals are more likely. The adjustment period is less. But I also want someone who can help in CONCACAF Champions League.”

They’re looking across the Atlantic, too, though European players acquired at lower salary cap hits are typically older and approaching the ends of their careers — like Benoit Cheyrou.

“We’re looking at some options in Europe and some options in South America, but I wouldn’t say we’ve settled on anything and I wouldn’t guarantee anything yet.

“I think what we’d look for is an attacking midfielder who can play at the top of our diamond or the outside of our diamond — to add a little more depth.”

From back to front, TFC’s depth has been tested as much or more than most teams in the league. Still, the Reds find themselves in a decent spot with 10 of their final 15 matches at BMO Field.

“I won’t be satisfied until we’re at the top of the standings,” Bezbatchenko said. “I don’t like having a losing record any time, but those are subjective, gut-feeling type things.

“I do think we’re positioned well to move up the table. You know, we’re ranked sixth in points-per-game away and, at home, there were some games we should have won that we tied.”

Lost in it all is the fact this side somehow managed to win another Canadian Championship despite rolling out lineups most would have considered second-rate before the tournament.

“We committed a lot of our energy towards winning the Canadian Championship, which we did,” Bezbatchenko added. “Once we get healthy, I think we’re positioned well to make a run within the league.”

Avoiding bumps and bruises until that time could prove paramount. Losing to nine-man San Jose was embarrassing and, as Bezbatchenko told the Sun, the loss to Vancouver still stings.

That they’re relying on a rookie netminder to potentially make the difference in games is certainly nerve-racking given Alex Bono’s recent performances.

“What we expected was what we got (with Bono),” Bezbatchenko said. “As a young goalkeeper, you’re going to make mistakes. They’re mistakes that hurt.

“I think we have two very good young goalkeepers. They have to learn to be great, but it’s only through mistakes that they’re going to. San Jose stung a bit more because of the game scenario.”

More dropped points at home would undoubtedly sting more. But this is a market that also tends to ignore the positives. The Reds find themselves in good position despite their DPs starting just five games together this season.

The Reds also have conceded the second-least amount of goals in the East despite playing a front-loaded away schedule. They’ve lost just once at BMO Field and nine of their final 15 are against sides below them in the overall standings.

“I’m confident,” Bezbatchenko said. “I don’t like being below .500, but once we get healthy — maybe the Real Salt Lake or New England game — then August, September and October are crunch time.”

Email: klarson@postmedia.com

Twitter: @KurtLarSUN