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Landon Donovan Only Considering Everton For Possible Loan
He has not made final choice to go.
Nov 18, 2010 4:54:00 PM
By Andrea Canales
CARSON, Calif. - Landon Donovan still isn't sure if his off-season plans include going back to England on loan to play with Everton, where he had a memorable stint at the start of the year.
"My plan is to rest over the next few weeks and get in the mental place where I can make a proper decision," Donovan told the local media Thursday in California. "If you ask me today, I'd probably say no, because my body is exhausted. If you ask me in two months, I'd probably say yes, because I'd be excited again."
The decision would have to be made before two months pass, however. The earliest Donovan could move abroad is when the transfer window opens again in January of the new year, which would give him with about a month and a half of rest.
"Once I come down from all this and see how my body feels, then I'll figure it out," the midfielder said.
Donovan's off-season started Monday, after the Los Angeles Galaxy were eliminated from Major League Soccer's playoffs in the Western Conference final, only a game away from the championship match.
"I don't want what happened Sunday to sour the whole year," Donovan said, noting that the Galaxy team had the best regular-season record. "I was disappointed, but it's over. We've got to move on."
With leading the USA squad at the World Cup this summer in addition to his time in England, Donovan has been playing year-round soccer with only a few weeks off.
"It's our job - it's what we do," Donovan explained. "A lot of players do it around the world. It's part of what we deal with. You hope that you don't break down. I've been fortunate to be relatively healthy."
One issue for Donovan is that his performance at the World Cup has probably put him on the radar of some clubs for a permanent transfer abroad. The question remains whether a club elsewhere would match the Galaxy's price for him, but given his age, 28, it's a decision that needs to made sooner rather than later.
"I'm not that old," Donovan first protested when the topic was raised, before adding, "I only have so many years to play in general. I'm certainly going to think that through."
Yet though there has reportedly been interest expressed in Donovan for a loan option from clubs as diverse as England's Newcastle and Mexico's Monterrey, it seems there is only one destination the player will consider for a loan.
It's the place he fit in well before, on the blue side of the river Mersey. Other suitors simply don't have a chance.
In response to whether he would only consider Everton for a loan deal if he feels fit enough to handle it, Donovan didn't hesitate.
"I would say so, yeah," Donovan told Goal.com.
If the Galaxy are successful in pulling off a rumored deal to bring Ronaldinho to Los Angeles, that might also pave the way for a Donovan move to Everton to become permanent.
Keep updated with Major League Soccer throughout the playoffs by visiting Goal.com's MLS page and joining Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
"My plan is to rest over the next few weeks and get in the mental place where I can make a proper decision," Donovan told the local media Thursday in California. "If you ask me today, I'd probably say no, because my body is exhausted. If you ask me in two months, I'd probably say yes, because I'd be excited again."
The decision would have to be made before two months pass, however. The earliest Donovan could move abroad is when the transfer window opens again in January of the new year, which would give him with about a month and a half of rest.
"Once I come down from all this and see how my body feels, then I'll figure it out," the midfielder said.
Donovan's off-season started Monday, after the Los Angeles Galaxy were eliminated from Major League Soccer's playoffs in the Western Conference final, only a game away from the championship match.
"I don't want what happened Sunday to sour the whole year," Donovan said, noting that the Galaxy team had the best regular-season record. "I was disappointed, but it's over. We've got to move on."
With leading the USA squad at the World Cup this summer in addition to his time in England, Donovan has been playing year-round soccer with only a few weeks off.
"It's our job - it's what we do," Donovan explained. "A lot of players do it around the world. It's part of what we deal with. You hope that you don't break down. I've been fortunate to be relatively healthy."
One issue for Donovan is that his performance at the World Cup has probably put him on the radar of some clubs for a permanent transfer abroad. The question remains whether a club elsewhere would match the Galaxy's price for him, but given his age, 28, it's a decision that needs to made sooner rather than later.
"I'm not that old," Donovan first protested when the topic was raised, before adding, "I only have so many years to play in general. I'm certainly going to think that through."
Yet though there has reportedly been interest expressed in Donovan for a loan option from clubs as diverse as England's Newcastle and Mexico's Monterrey, it seems there is only one destination the player will consider for a loan.
It's the place he fit in well before, on the blue side of the river Mersey. Other suitors simply don't have a chance.
In response to whether he would only consider Everton for a loan deal if he feels fit enough to handle it, Donovan didn't hesitate.
"I would say so, yeah," Donovan told Goal.com.
If the Galaxy are successful in pulling off a rumored deal to bring Ronaldinho to Los Angeles, that might also pave the way for a Donovan move to Everton to become permanent.
Keep updated with Major League Soccer throughout the playoffs by visiting Goal.com's MLS page and joining Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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