Real Salt Lake acquired forward Jason Shokalook and loaned midfielder Colin Guske in the final days of the MLS summer transfer window, adding attacking and midfield depth for a playoff push.

The club announced Wednesday, Sept. 2, that it acquired Shokalook, 23, from Chicago Fire FC for $150,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). His contract runs through the end of 2026, with club options for 2027 and 2028. RSL had added Guske, 19, on loan from Orlando City SC on Friday, Aug. 28, for $50,000 in GAM, with an option to buy after the season.

Both signings target gaps exposed during an eight-game MLS winless streak dating to May 16. RSL sat 10th in the Western Conference with an 8-9-4 record and 28 points after a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, Aug. 29, one point outside the playoff line with 13 games left.

Shokalook won the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot after scoring 20 goals for Chicago Fire II. He made his MLS debut last season, signed a first-team contract in December and scored twice in his first U.S. Open Cup start. But his path to regular minutes in Chicago was blocked first by Hugo Cuypers, then by the arrival of Robert Lewandowski.

"I wanted to make a move," Shokalook told KSL Sports. "Real Salt Lake was looking for a striker, and things kind of played out … Chicago is a great club. They just brought in Lewandowski, so being a young striker, it's difficult."

RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said Shokalook fills an immediate need behind striker Sergi Solans, who has played 90 minutes in each of the last two matches during the longest season of his career. Mastroeni described Shokalook as an "opportunistic" center forward who can hold up play and run in behind.

Guske brings U.S. Under-20 international experience. He joined Orlando City's academy in 2021, started 24 MLS NEXT Pro matches in 2024 and was selected to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game. Orlando signed him as a Homegrown Player after that season. He had made six MLS appearances in 2026, including two starts, before the loan.

Guske said he learned of RSL's interest while playing for the U.S. during the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. He said the club's emphasis on developing young players and the chance to learn under Mastroeni, who played the same defensive midfielder position during his career, drew him to Sandy.

He wasted no time. Guske made his RSL debut on Saturday, Aug. 29, entering in the 72nd minute against Colorado and logging 18 minutes. He became all-time RSL player No. 240. Seven minutes after entering, he took a tactical yellow card to stop a Colorado counterattack.

Mastroeni praised the play, saying it showed Guske's awareness that the moment was critical. Guske also reunites with RSL's Aiden Hezarkhani, a former U.S. Youth National Team teammate.

On the training field Tuesday, Sept. 1, sporting director Kurt Schmid was spotted chatting with defender Justen Glad. Forward Victor Olatunji trained separately, with Mastroeni indicating transfer opportunities were available to him. Another unidentified player was at the facility but did not participate, suggesting additional moves could follow before the window closed Wednesday night.

RSL returns to America First Field in Sandy on Saturday, Sept. 5, against LAFC at 7:30 p.m. MT on Apple TV. Home matches against NYCFC on Sept. 12 and Vancouver on Sept. 19 follow.