USMNT Transfers: Gio Reyna linked to Milan, PSV look to keep Ricardo Pepi as offers fly in, MLS an option for Alejandro Zendejas

Borussia Dortmund return from their winter break on Friday with a match against Bayer Leverkusen. In the meantime, they've been linked with Marcus Rashford in a move that would mirror a similar one to sign Jadon Sancho last season. Another attacker may soon be in the team, which is bad news for Gio Reyna.

It's still quiet when it comes to Reyna transfer rumors, although one big one has popped up. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Reyna could be a target of new Milan boss Sergio Conceicao. Milan has obviously become a haven for USMNT stars, and the thought of Reyna joining Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah in Italy is a fun one. Tactically, how would this move work, though?

It'll depend on how Conceicao views Reyna. Is he a winger competing with Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao for a starting spot? Is he a No. 10 that can start centrally and allow Pulisic to thrive out wide? Or is he a No. 8, leaving him competing with a whole bunch of midfield options already in the Milan team?

A move to Milan would feel like Reyna trading one tough situation for another. Maybe Milan's circumstance will be different, but it's still not a guarantee. And the biggest thing Reyna needs is a guarantee of more playing time, wherever that is.

The offers are coming in hot for Ricardo Pepi, but can PSV actually find a way to keep him?

According to Eindhovens Dagblad, PSV are hoping to keep Pepi this winter, and their plan to do that is by giving him a new contract. That would obviously include a significant raise, one that would convince Pepi to remain with the club, at least for the short-term.

It'll be a tough decision, no doubt. Big bids have come in, although not quite big enough for PSV to be willing to move on from the American star. GOAL confirmed that a Premier League side made a $20.7 million bid for Pepi, while there has also been interest from one of the bigger teams in France. Those will certainly appeal to a player scoring goals for fun, like Pepi is.

Should Pepi stay or go? What are the numbers that will make sense for either side to commit? This is all just getting started, and why Pepi's transfer situation remains one to watch.

HajiWright has been out of action for a while, but there are Premier League clubs willing to give him a chance to take a leap forward this January.

According to TBR Football, both Leicester City and Ipswich Town are interested in signing the American striker in January. Both are in the relegation zone, and both can use a boost in the form of extra goals. Wright is reportedly ready to make the move, and Coventry wouldn't be totally opposed to selling if they make a hefty profit on their original £8 million investment.

Wright scored 16 goals last season while providing seven assists for Coventry. He started well this season, too, scoring seven goals in 15 games before an ankle injury knocked him out for several months. It seems neither Leicester nor Ipswich are deterred by that, though.

Wright looks destined for a step up sooner or later. He's done plenty of good work in the Championship, which is usually a good way to earn a Premier League move. The question is if it's smart to take that leap to join relegation favorites with the hope of saving them, or wait until the summer and the stability of a full season?

For now, Wright just needs to get back to playing and sort things out from there.

Both Brandon Vazquez and Alejandro Zendejas find themselves in odd spots on the international level. Both are very useful players for the USMNT, offering different profiles and skillsets from others at their positions. Yet, both face a difficult path to legitimate minutes in time for the 2026 World Cup given the pure talent of their competitors.

We'll start with Vazquez, who has made his own move. The striker has signed with Austin FC, ending a year-long stay with Monterrey. His time in Mexico started well, with 10 goals across his first half-season, but it fizzled with just four goals during the Apertura.

He'll now head to an Austin FC side where he'll be the main man, but there are still doubts on whether that'll be enough from a USMNT perspective. Can Vazquez keep pace with the likes of Pepi, Folarin Balogun and Josh Sargent while in MLS? Is his physical profile enough to keep him involved as a change-of-pace option? Only Mauricio Pochetino knows but, either way, Vazquez will need to score if he wants to remain in this race - especially given what Pepi is doing in Europe.

As for Zendejas, GiveMeSport reported that Orlando City had a bid rejected by Club America. That comes fresh off Zendejas' starring role in Club America's trophy-winning triumph, making it even more ambitious. What would it say about the balance of power in the region if Orlando can pry away a star from Liga MX's best team?

From a USMNT POV, Zendejas' stock has never been higher. Could this be his best chance to head to Europe? He may not even want to but, with the winger set to turn 27 in February, this is certainly a career crossroads. Both are worth keeping an eye on going forward as moves to MLS could very well be the keys to their 2026 hopes.

While there are rumors linking two USMNT hopefuls with a Liga MX exit, another American up-and-comer is being mentioned as a Club America target: Richy Ledezma. And those links come amid a breakout season.

An attacking midfielder by trade, Ledezma has morphed into a fantastic fullback for PSV, taking over that right-back spot generally held by the currently-injured Sergino Dest. That said, Dest is nearing a return - so could that lead to a big move from Ledezma, who has proven more than capable throughout the first half of the Eredivisie season?

A report from Eindhovens Dagblad says that PSV have already turned down an offer from America, who were hoping to pounce due to Ledezma's contract situation. His deal is nearing its expiration, and the hope was that PSV would be eager to receive some sort of money for him before that happens. Instead, PSV immediately rejected the offer, according to the report, and are looking to extend his deal.

It's one to keep an eye on, particularly when Dest returns and reclaims that right-back spot.

The two young Americans on Westerlo could both be set for a move this January.

Sources told GOAL in December that Westerlo had turned down a bid from Sparta Prague to sign Bryan Reynolds. Championship side Plymouth were also interested, although the situation there has changed dramatically with the departure of Wayne Rooney. GOALcan confirm that another club has submitted a bid and that multiple others could be interested in signing Reynolds this January.

As for the other American, Griffin Yow, GOALcan also confirm that there has been interest from a Champions League-level club in Scandinavia. That club has reached out to ask Westerlo about Yow's availability this winter. Yow started all four games for the U.S. at the Olympics this past summer. The 22-year-old winger been with Westerlo since leaving D.C. United for Europe in 2022.

Both Reynolds and Yow are young players looking to push into the USMNT squad. Reynolds has USMNT experience while Yow has exclusively played at the U23 level. Both will hope that a potential move could see their visibility go up under Pochettino.