According to MLS Players Union figures, Saborio’s $535,000 in overall compensation topped United’s payroll until Kennedy Igboananike arrived from Chicago. However, the Fire continued to cover his $900,000 hit.

United has no plans to pick up Igboananike’s current salary next season. The Nigerian forward, 27, would have to agree to an enormous pay cut, which seems unlikely. With United, he appeared in seven league matches, starting two and scoring once.

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***United wants to re-sign right back Sean Franklin, whose contract expires next month. Franklin’s base salary this season was $225,000. He could opt for free agency. (Because he’s played at least eight years in MLS, Franklin does not have to go through the re-entry draft.)

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In three years in Washington, he has started 80 league matches. He’ll turn 32 in March.

When Franklin injured a calf late in the season, Luke Mishu and Nick DeLeon became the options at right back. The natural replacement, Chris Korb, missed the entire season after suffering setbacks in his recovery from a 2015 ACL injury.

***United continues to work on finalizing a permanent transfer of Argentine playmaker Luciano Acosta from Boca Juniors. He was on loan this season.

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***Coach Ben Olsen is in the market for two assistants: Davy Arnaud, who spent a year on the staff after retiring last winter, accepted a similar position with the Houston Dynamo. Amos Magee, according to ESPN, will join expansion Minnesota’s organization.

Arnaud is from southeast Texas and wanted to move closer to home with his family. Magee is from the Twin Cities and played and coached the USL’s Minnesota Thunder over many years. Chad Ashton and Zach Thornton remain on Olsen’s staff.

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***United has been keeping a close eye on Wake Forest senior midfielder Ian Harkes as a possible homegrown signing. He is the son of former D.C. and U.S. captain John Harkes, the head coach of USL’s FC Cincinnati.

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Ian is a two-way central player and captain for the second-ranked Demon Deacons. This week, he was named ACC midfielder of the year. If he does not take the homegrown route, Harkes would be available in the MLS draft on Jan. 13 in Los Angeles.

United also continues to monitor academy grad Eryk Williamson, a sophomore attacker at top-ranked Maryland. It’s unclear whether the club believes he’s ready to make the leap to the pros this winter.

Harkes grew up in Fairfax and attended Gonzaga High School. Williamson is from Alexandria’s T.C. Williams High.