With the 2018 season opener six weeks away, Minnesota United’s front office continues efforts to sign new players for its second campaign in MLS.

But while adding three newcomers so far this offseason, the Loons have missed out on a few targeted acquisitions.

“As much as it’s frustrating at times because we’ve been close on one or two occasions to bring people in, I want to bring the right people in,” United coach Adrian Heath told the Pioneer Press on Wednesday from the MLS Player Combine in Orlando, Fla.

“There are a couple of guys that we were really interested in, and unfortunately for one reason or another, one guy didn’t leave his club, signed a new deal, and another one went to a lucrative offer in Mexico,” Heath said, without sharing specifics. “That is what you are up against. There is more money in the game now and around the world that the fact of coming to America is not enough. … At this moment in time, still, the thought of the money they make in places like Mexico is still a big draw.”

After the expansion franchise rebounded from a dismal start last March, Minnesota ended 10-18-6 and missed the playoffs with a ninth-place finish in the 11-team Western Conference in 2017. In October, Heath pegged the number of possible new players somewhere between four and seven.

The Loons have added three players this offseason. They traded a fourth-round draft pick to Atlanta for midfielder Harrison Heath, Adrian’s son, who has played sparingly in MLS. They drafted veteran defender Tyrone Mears in the re-entry draft and signed winger Frantz Pangop of Cameroon, who is expected to bring speed and playmaking.

The Loons are set to add another Cameroonian player, which could be announced as soon as next week.

United is still determining its use of Target Allocation Money, a pool of money MLS provides for higher-tier players. MLS has provided $1.2 million for clubs to spend in the past, and starting this year, clubs can now open up their own pocket book to spend up to $2.8 million.

This is below the “Designated Player” level for the highest-paid players expected to make the biggest impact. MLS allows three DPs per team; Minnesota has yet to sign one.

“We’re looking,” Heath said of repeated scouting efforts in South America, Europe and Africa. “I don’t want any of our supporters thinking that since the last time we saw them, we haven’t done anything and we are coming into training next week.

“We are looking for someone that is going to give us value,” Heath continued.

Heath said the club is looking for a younger DP that can increase his worth while in Minnesota, then potentially have the opportunity to sell him to another, bigger international club and replenish the roster with that money.

The Loons will have three opportunities to add players in the MLS SuperDraft at 11 a.m. Friday in Philadelphia. Minnesota has the fifth overall pick, and two second-round selections (28th and 41st).

Last year, the Loons took Abu Danladi, a forward from UCLA, with the first overall pick. He led all MLS rookies with eight goals and four winning goals, and finished second to Atlanta midfielder Julian Gressel, the eighth pick, in Rookie of the Year voting.

Heath said there aren’t consensus top picks this year. “There isn’t anybody where you go, he’s going to go one,” he said. “This is a strange (draft). Everybody you ask has another player that they like.”

Heath said he, Sporting Director Manny Lagos and Director of Player Personnel Amos Magee will have to wait to see who’s available and weigh their goals.

“Are we going to take maybe the best player that we think is available at five?” Heath questioned. “Or are we going to take somebody that we feel is going to be a solid pro in the league for years to come and is going to help us now because we need some strength in depth in one of the areas?”