Toronto FC set the stage for a possible player acquisition Wednesday, making a deal with expansion FC Cincinnati for first position in Major League Soccer's allocation order.

Toronto also acquired US$250,000 in allocation money ($150,000 in general allocation money and $100,000 in targeted allocation money), sending defender Nick Hagglund and Toronto's 24th position in the allocation order in exchange.

"This deal gives us flexibility on our budget both in the short- and long-term, " Toronto GM Ali Curtis said in a statement. "In addition, the No. 1 allocation ranking gives us the option of acquiring another player and/or asset either during this transfer window or in the summer."

Major League Soccer uses the allocation process as its way of acquiring select U.S. internationals, elite youth U.S. internationals or former MLS players returning to the league after joining a non-MLS club for a transfer fee greater than $500,000.

The allocation ranking is set by taking the reverse order of the club's standings at the end of each MLS Season, with the expansion clubs at the top of the order.

Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. Teams can trade rankings, provided that part of the compensation received in return is the other club's ranking.

Toronto made a similar deal in December with San Jose, jumping to No. 2 in the allocation ranking order in exchange for US$75,000 in general allocation money, $75,000 in targeted allocation money and the No. 6 allocation spot.

Toronto subsequently sent a second-round pick to FC Cincinnati to move up one spot to the top of the allocation ranking. It then used the allocation process to sign former MLS defender of the year Laurent Ciman, who had left the league to play in France.

The 26-year-old Hagglund, a Cincinnati native, has been with Toronto since being taken in the first round (10th overall) in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. In five seasons with Toronto, Hagglund made a combined 115 appearances with six goals and six assists.

A popular member of the Toronto team, Hagglund saw action in 20 games last season with 15 starts. A force in the air, he had three goals in 2018.

Hagglund scored one of the biggest goals in club history in the 2016 playoffs against the Montreal Impact. His headed goal with 22 minutes remaining in regulation time tied up the Eastern Conference final at 5-5 aggregate, sending it to extra time where goals by Benoit Cheyrou and Tosaint Ricketts sealed the Toronto win.

Toronto is well-stocked at centre back with Ciman, Drew Moor, Chris Mavinga and Eriq Zavaleta with fullbacks Gregory van der Wiel and Justin Morrow also available as cover.

It has other needs.

TFC was left a hole in its midfield with the recent departure of Spanish playmaker Victor Vazquez to a club in Qatar. The club is also short on depth up front behind star forwards Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore.

The team is currently training in California.

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