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SAN JOSE — A renewed sense of optimism has enveloped the Earthquakes with the arrival of new general manager Jesse Fioranelli and the possibility of some major player signings, including a forward from Mexico’s Club America.

“In 2017, we will send a message and that will be strong enough, I’m 100 percent sure,” said Fioranelli, who was introduced Tuesday as the replacement for John Doyle, the Quakes’ only general manager since they re-entered the league in 2008.

Related Articles San Jose Earthquakes sign Panamanian defender

San Jose Earthquakes’ Pelosi, Thompson renegotiating contracts Fioranelli, 37, asked for patience as he learns the sometimes byzantine ways of U.S. soccer. But amid a four-year playoff drought, the Quakes must also focus on the 2017 season, which opens in March.

President Dave Kaval on Tuesday confirmed a ESPN FC report that the team is trying to sign Club America forward Darwin Quintero.The report citing unidentified league sources also said San Jose is pursuing Ivory Coast forward Solomon Kalou, Albanian midfielder Jahmir Hyka and Costa Rican forward Marco Urena.

A source with knowledge of the negotiations said talks with Quintero and Hyka appear to be the most positive.

To date, the only moves the team has announced this offseason are the signings of Panamanian defender Harold Cummings and Homegrown player Nick Lima, a promising fullback from Cal.

“I wouldn’t take the lack of signings to mean we haven’t worked really hard and haven’t identified and analyzed players; we have,” technical director Chris Leitch said.

Leitch and coach Dominic Kinnear declined to identify their targets, citing ongoing negotiations. The Quakes are expected to re-sign attacking midfielder Tommy Thompson and defender Marvell Wynne and they have the No. 6 overall pick in Friday’s college draft. They also have the No. 28, No. 50 and No. 72 picks.

“Looking at what we’ve done, the back line is pretty solid,” Kinnear said.

The coach added the Quakes still are in talks to re-sign winger Alberto Quintero, another Panamanian who was on loan last year in San Jose. The team also is negotiating with Colombian forward Olmes Garcia, who was selected last month in the re-entry draft.

Kinnear said their priority now is to sign attacking players to pair with star Chris Wondolowski.

Darwin Quintero, no relation to Alberto Quinetero, seems like the striker who could make the biggest impact. A naturalized Mexican from Columbia, he plays for Club America and also has played at Santos Laguna. He has scored 114 goals in his Mexican career.

Leitch and Kinnear have handled player acquisitions in the absence of a GM. Fioranellideclined to say how much that would change now that he’s aboard.

“The goal for the next three months is to listen and to absorb,” he said in his first public comments since getting hired last week. “It’s going to take a little bit a time in my new environment so I ask you for a little bit of patience.”

But the former executive at AS Roma and Serie A team Lazio is ready to create an identity for the Earthquakes.

“There is not a single player or person that is more important than the club itself,” he said. “Big signings and high-profile players will have to fit into the goals that we set out as a club.”

Kaval expects Fioranelli will keep Leitch and Kinnear, calling the trio the league’s “Dream Team.” Kaval added that the hiring elevates Major League Soccer’s profile, given that Fioranelli was a rising star from Serie A, one of the world’s best leagues.

“That we have someone who just moved from Rome says a lot about where MLS and soccer in America are,” Kaval said. “We saw the interest from all the big clubs — Manchester City and Manchester United.”

Historically, international administrators have struggled in MLS. But Kaval said MLS is evolving into a league with bigger budgets and bigger visions.

“To create a global football club and get someone who could think beyond North America, we felt (Fioranelli) was a perfect fit where the league is going,” Kaval said.

Born of an American mother and an Italian father, Fioranelli grew up playing soccer in his native Switzerland. He spent some of his teen years in Maryland. A father of one child (a son), Fioranelli said he was attracted to the Bay Area because of the team’s potential and Silicon Valley’s reputation for innovation.

“If I weren’t completely convinced that this was the right move for me and my family, I wouldn’t have taken it,” Fioranelli said.