Major League Soccer’s teams have been very active this season searching for designated players to increase the already high profile of the league.

With teams like New York City FC going for experienced 30-somethings and LA Galaxy signing a mix of experienced ex-EPL players and internationals, there is a plethora of talent the rest of MLS is overlooking.

With the MLS transfer window ending this week, here are five players that clubs in the league should be – and should have – been targeting all along. There is, however, always the next transfer window.

1. Alexandre Pato

Alexandre Pato spent many of his final days at AC Milan watching from the sidelines. The Brazilian was often injured and when we he wasn’t he struggled to find his form. In spite of this, he still tallied 51 goals in 117 games in Serie A.

Since moving back to Brazil, Pato has had mixed results, despite scoring 30 times for Corinthians and Sao Paulo, respectively. Currently, Pato is only on loan at Sao Paulo and Corinthians are shopping the striker around. Pato is reportedly available for just under $8 million and has been offered to English Premier League side Sunderland.

Looking to make a splash, Pato would have been an interesting signing by any ambitious MLS playoff hunting team. Despite his injury problems, MLS would be more kind to the Brazilian’s body than the EPL.

2. Fabio Borini

Fabio Borini is surplus to requirements at Liverpool and is finding a move away from Anfield a little bit difficult this summer. Much like Mario Balotelli, Liverpool seem desperate to get Borini off their books. A deal with the Reds could be done on the cheap – possibly a loan – as Borini has managed a mere three goals in 38 appearances for Liverpool.

Despite his Liverpool output, Borini is a very talented striker and has featured for the likes of Chelsea, Swansea City and Roma in the past. With Roma, the Italian tallied ten goals in 26 games. The 24-year-old has plenty of potential and a move to North America could be just what the striker needs to rediscover his form.

3. Alberto Aquilani

Alberto Aquilani cost Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool nearly $27m in 2009. Despite being injured when he was purchased from Roma, big things were expected from the Italian.

Twenty-eight games and two goals later, Aquilani was sent out on loan to Juventus before spending a season on loan at AC Milan.

Cutting their losses, Liverpool sold the midfielder for just over $1m to Fiorentina, where he was able to rediscover some of his form.

After three seasons with the Viola, Aquilani is currently a free agent, according to Transfermarkt. Capable of playing as an attacking playmaker or a deep laying passer, Aquilani would be a Pirlo-alternative to a team in need of some midfield pass creativity.

4. Heiko Westermann

While some may love the free scoring MLS, there is no doubt the league is quite defensively inept. Former German international Heiko Westermann could be one way of fixing those defensive problems for teams near the top of the table

At the beginning of the 2015 season, only four designated players were defensive personnel: Matt Besler, Liam Ridgewell, Omar Gonzalez and DeMarcus Beasley. Gonzalez has since become the guinea pig for the Target Allocation Money mechanism in MLS, while Beasley has traditionally been a winger.

Westermann’s leadership and experience would be a huge asset to New York Red Bulls or DC United as both clubs exert their dominance in the east. A solid center-back in front of Bill Hamid would make the red and black even more dangerous as the postseason approaches.

5. Urby Emanuelson

A product of the famed Ajax youth team, Urby Emanuelson would be a perfect fit to any MLS team. Though the Dutchman found life very difficult since leaving Ajax in 2011 with stops at AC Milan, Fulham, Roma and Atalanta, his high-energy approach is similar to the North American style.

Emanuelson has been used as a utility man in recent times and can play at left-back, left wing or in central midfield. That versatility is what many MLS coaches and general managers crave when putting a team together.

At 29-years old, Emanuelson is in need of revitalizing a stagnating career in Europe. A step down in levels would be a way of doing that and help the Dutchman forget about the last three seasons in Italy.

Follow Drew Farmer on Twitter @Calciofarmer. Drew Farmer is a Manchester, England-based journalist/blogger that writes for World Soccer Talk. Drew has contributed to Radio Yorkshire MLS Monday, Forza Italian Football, Bleacher Report, MLSGB and Soccerly. Originally from southwest Missouri, Drew covers Italy’s Serie A, British football and the USA’s Major League Soccer.