The Short List: Moving Around

By Allen Ramsey

It’s that time of year again. The season in Europe is coming to a close, managers are finding out if they will be around next season, and players are looking for greener pastures. But unlike past transfer markets this summer should mark to movement of several American players in Europe.

Oguchi Onyewu is the prime target and will almost certainly leave Standard Liege in Belgium for a bigger team, and presumably bigger money, in one of Europe’s top league. Among the suitors, Michael Bradley’s Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, Olympique Marseille in France, Real Betis in Spain, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are hoping to bring the big defender back to England.

Onyewu’s situation is different from most of America’s players for several reasons. The standout center back is on a free transfer for starters. In trying financial times acquiring a player of his caliber for only small amounts of up-front money could weigh heavily on some team’s minds.

Secondly, he’s a proven commodity. While his stint with Newcastle might not have been the best (I wonder if Alan Shearer would like to have him about now?) he’s shown that he can play against the top competition in Europe while with Standard, and against some of the world’s top players as a member of the U.S. National team.

Most importantly, Onyewu seems to be coming into his prime as a player. There was a time when the big man was just too big to be effective. He was strong in the air and when he was marking tight enough to get his body on attacking players, but often didn’t show the quickness that is required of a top-notch center-half. Now a slimmer, quicker and more polished player, Onyewu definitely appears like he is ready for move back to one of the top leagues in the world.

Another player who is almost certainly on the move is Freddy Adu. The young playmaker’s time with Monaco hasn’t worked out particularly well, and it seems likely that he is headed back to Benfica. A move to his third European club would not be a surprise if Benfica don’t feel he’s ready to make an impact.

While Onyewu and Adu are very likely moving on, other Americans are playing a wait-and-see game. Some are out of favor at their current clubs and likely looking for a new home while others may be in position for a move based on their quality this season.

Here’s a list of a few American players to keep an eye on this summer.

Heath Pearce: The fullback is out of favor at Hansa Rostock and will probably be searching for a new home. Whether he can find one in Europe may be the biggest question.

Best Fit: FC Midtjylland. Maybe playing beside Danny Califf would help Pearce settle down and find a nice home for himself. The two have spent plenty of time together in the National Team set up and have covered each other well.

Doesn’t Fit Well: In any of Europe’s top leagues. But Pearce could be a solid contributor to a Scandinavian side and can still develop into a top flight left-back.

Jozy Altidore: It’s unlikely that Villarreal will be ready to give up on Altidore after spending a huge amount of money on him last summer, and his loan to Xerez has been fruitless. Other clubs will certainly show interest in the budding young star, but a good performance in the Confederations Cup could easily persuade a team in one of Europe’s top league to pony up the cash Villarreal will be looking for.

Best Fit: Stoke City. Stoke is a top flight club in England that has some problems in the striking department. Altidore’s game fits well with the pace and power of England and Stoke could use the help of a young powerful striker with a nose for goal.

Doesn’t Fit: In Italy or Spain. Altidore needs to be somewhere that his natural talents lead to success. He’s a physical marvel that still has some developing to do on the more subtle aspects of the game.

DaMarcus Beasley: It’s been a frustrating year for the winger at Rangers. Injuries and a very deep squad have kept Beasley from finding regular minutes, but with the World Cup on the horizon, it’s likely that the Fort Wayne, Indiana native will be looking for a club where he can stay match fit until South Africa rolls around.

Best Fit: PSV. Why not make a move back to the team where he made a name for himself in the first place.

Doesn’t Fit: In England. Or anywhere on the British Isles for that matter as his pace is not what it once was.

Michael Bradley: Admittedly, Bradley probably isn’t moving away from ‘Gladbach. But the side is still in a tight relegation battle and should it turn out the wrong way, Bradley would be a likely transfer target for another club in Germany or a similar league.

His play in the middle of the park has been solid for the strugglers, and there are plenty of teams searching for a holding midfielder who can add to the attack and contribute goals while still protecting the back four. Like Altidore, Bradley’s showing in the Confederation Cup could also determine how much money suitors would be willing to spend.

Best Fit: Rennes. Why wouldn’t Rennes want to have a player like Bradley? Their last American signing, Carlos Bocanegra, is working out quite well and Bradley fits in their defense oriented system.

Doesn’t Fit: In Spain. The league moves too fast and Bradley has a tendency to to commit too many sloppy fouls when the game is moving faster than he is.

Clint Dempsey: Much like Bradley, Dempsey will probably stay where he is, especially if Fulham can hold on to seventh in the EPL and earn a spot in European competition next season. But the versatile midfielder has arguably the highest value of any American player and Fulham is the type of club that will listen to offers and use the money to build some depth in their incredibly thin squad. Jimmy Bullard being sold to Hull City in January is a prime example of this mentality.

Much like Bullard, Dempsey could have a high value in England, but a move will probably be contingent on European competition.

Best Fit: Everton. A healthy Everton squad is scary, but how much could they have used a player like Dempsey this year when every attacking player on the squad was injured? Plus, rumors have it that the Toffees have already shown some interest in the attacking midfielder-turned striker-turned winger.

Doesn’t Fit: On  any team in a relegation fight. He’s already done that with Fulham twice. It’s time for America’s top player to be playing for a team involved in European competition.

Allen Ramsey is an Assistant Editor for Goal.com USA. The Short List runs every Wednesday afternoon on Goal.com.

For more on American players overseas visit Goal.com's Americans Abroad page.