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Feature: Five Possible MLS Winter Departures
With the transfer window creaked open, Goal.com's Zac Lee Rigg takes a look at possible departures from MLS in the next month.
Jan 2, 2009 12:34:31 PM
By Zac Lee Rigg
It’s the silly season again, and for the next month the air will be a-buzz with players whizzing from old clubs to new.
The following five players are good bets to leave Major League Soccer this January for European destinations.
1. Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA) - This Huntington Beach, California native has the tools to run an offense by himself. He is silky-smooth on the ball, and has the vision necessary to link midfield and attack. The 23-year-old was the top scorer for Chivas USA in the 2008 season, playing across all the middle four as well as off a main striker, and breaking in the USA national team setup as a deeper, holding midfielder. A host of European clubs are reportedly interesting in his services, and Kljestan himself has made very obvious his desire to play abroad should the chance arrive.
2. Kenny Cooper (Dallas FC) - Dallas' frontman nearly left American shores in the summer transfer window, but saw his deal to Cardiff City collapse at the last moment. He's a burly striker, and is imposing at 191 cm, but fleet of foot and eager to drift wide to create chances. He's perhaps more comfortable with the ball at his feet, but has a full arsenal of attacking weapons which helped him score 18 times last season, good for second best in the league. The 24-year-old is also a former Manchester United youth teammer and would adjust well.
3. Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew) - Marshall most recently marshaled his team to a Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup double, nabbing the 2008 MLS Defender of the Year Award. He's a tough, imposing, powerful defender who is dangerous when attacking set-pieces, which he proved by scoring the game winner in the MLS Cup final. After training briefly with Mainz of the 2.Bundesliga, Marshall signed a contract extension with Columbus, but any decent offer from abroad would turn the 24-year-old's head.
4. Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) - Perhaps America's most well-known player, Donovan is available. After winning the league golden boot with 20 goals, the 26-year-old announced that he was ready to give Europe a whirl one more time (he has spent two spells with Bayer Leverkusen). Bayern Munich moved in for the USA's top international goalscorer, but only on a loan deal. A nippy little attacker, Donovan is best using his tremendous burst of speed to come from deep and slice through defenses.
5. David Beckham (LA Galaxy) - Heard of him? He used to play for two very small and humble teams, Manchester United and Real Madrid. The right-sided midfielder is currently at loan with AC Milan, and some reports suggest the deal could be made permanent. For their part, as soon as Milan heard Beckham could continue until 40, they were certainly interested, loving nothing else than fielding the oldest possible team imaginable. Either way, his shirt sales along are enough to make a deal worthwhile, but you also get some tremendous set-piece delivery and pin-point crosses backed up by a rigid work ethic.
Bonus: 6. Joe Cannon (San Jose Earthquakes) – The veteran shot stopper is currently haggling over a new contract with the Earthquakes. Another solid American ‘keeper, he is currently available for a free transfer and is reportedly looking into options abroad. He’s got the experience and ability to be a decent addition to most teams. Just ask LA Galaxy how easy it is to replace him.
Zac Lee Rigg is an associate editor of Goal.com
Discuss possible MLS departures in the Goal.com Forums
It’s the silly season again, and for the next month the air will be a-buzz with players whizzing from old clubs to new.
The following five players are good bets to leave Major League Soccer this January for European destinations.
1. Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA) - This Huntington Beach, California native has the tools to run an offense by himself. He is silky-smooth on the ball, and has the vision necessary to link midfield and attack. The 23-year-old was the top scorer for Chivas USA in the 2008 season, playing across all the middle four as well as off a main striker, and breaking in the USA national team setup as a deeper, holding midfielder. A host of European clubs are reportedly interesting in his services, and Kljestan himself has made very obvious his desire to play abroad should the chance arrive.
2. Kenny Cooper (Dallas FC) - Dallas' frontman nearly left American shores in the summer transfer window, but saw his deal to Cardiff City collapse at the last moment. He's a burly striker, and is imposing at 191 cm, but fleet of foot and eager to drift wide to create chances. He's perhaps more comfortable with the ball at his feet, but has a full arsenal of attacking weapons which helped him score 18 times last season, good for second best in the league. The 24-year-old is also a former Manchester United youth teammer and would adjust well.
3. Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew) - Marshall most recently marshaled his team to a Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup double, nabbing the 2008 MLS Defender of the Year Award. He's a tough, imposing, powerful defender who is dangerous when attacking set-pieces, which he proved by scoring the game winner in the MLS Cup final. After training briefly with Mainz of the 2.Bundesliga, Marshall signed a contract extension with Columbus, but any decent offer from abroad would turn the 24-year-old's head.
4. Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) - Perhaps America's most well-known player, Donovan is available. After winning the league golden boot with 20 goals, the 26-year-old announced that he was ready to give Europe a whirl one more time (he has spent two spells with Bayer Leverkusen). Bayern Munich moved in for the USA's top international goalscorer, but only on a loan deal. A nippy little attacker, Donovan is best using his tremendous burst of speed to come from deep and slice through defenses.
5. David Beckham (LA Galaxy) - Heard of him? He used to play for two very small and humble teams, Manchester United and Real Madrid. The right-sided midfielder is currently at loan with AC Milan, and some reports suggest the deal could be made permanent. For their part, as soon as Milan heard Beckham could continue until 40, they were certainly interested, loving nothing else than fielding the oldest possible team imaginable. Either way, his shirt sales along are enough to make a deal worthwhile, but you also get some tremendous set-piece delivery and pin-point crosses backed up by a rigid work ethic.
Bonus: 6. Joe Cannon (San Jose Earthquakes) – The veteran shot stopper is currently haggling over a new contract with the Earthquakes. Another solid American ‘keeper, he is currently available for a free transfer and is reportedly looking into options abroad. He’s got the experience and ability to be a decent addition to most teams. Just ask LA Galaxy how easy it is to replace him.
Zac Lee Rigg is an associate editor of Goal.com
Discuss possible MLS departures in the Goal.com Forums
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