Gio Reyna's next club: Ranking the USMNT star's January transfer options as Borussia Dortmund exit nears

This should be an easy one as, according to ESPN, Reyna joining Marseille seems unlikely. Reyna was reportedly offered to the French club, but Marseille are said to be against a move as it believes it already has enough players in the midfield, making a move for Reyna redundant despite his potential.

If that is how they feel, then it seems obvious for Reyna to stay away. Having struggled to crack the Dortmund midfield, the last thing he needs is a spot on a different bench or a fight to climb back up the pecking order. Given the other suitors, this landing spot seems like one to pass on.

A chance to join a French giant, albeit one that is really, really struggling this season. Perennially among the top teams in Ligue 1, Lyon have totally failed so far this season, and are currently sitting in the relegation zone at 16th. It's unacceptable, and you can be sure Lyon will be doing whatever it takes to dig itself out of this hole and avoid an unfathomable relegation.

Could Reyna be a player to help in that regard? You bet. A dynamic, young midfielder could be exactly what Lyon need in the short and long-term. The team obviously needs a rebuild, and there are few worse places to start than by adding a player that, despite his recent struggles, still has world-class potential.

Still, it's easy to see the risk involved. If it all continues to go sour after Reyna's arrival, he could be on the move again very, very quickly. Because of that, it may not be best to jump to a sinking ship as a savior in Reyna's situation.

Risky. Very risky. Forest are currently 15th in the Premier League, and Reyna's USMNT teammate, Matt Turner, has already had an up-and-down time since moving to the City Ground last summer.

There's also a potential points deduction hanging over the club's head, which could, and probably should, limit spending this month. Because of that, it's hard to see this one making much sense compared to other options on this list.

It's been a rough season so far for Villarreal, who certainly could use a bit of help. Right now, the club is 15th in La Liga, having scored 27 goals so far this season. That's good for the middle of the pack. What isn't, though, is the number of goals conceded, 41, tied for second-worst in La Liga through just 20 games.

Because of that, it's easy to see Villarreal targeting some defensive help in hopes of surviving this season. That said, Reyna is a long-term buy, a player who should contribute before being sold for a big profit.

Reyna seems like a perfect fit for La Liga given his technical ability, but there are better options on this list if he does want to go to Spain.

The Mendes effect! The Portuguese agent has strong ties to Wolves, having brokered deals with the club for a number of years now.

Wolves are comfortably midtable in the Premier League and have some good attacking pieces scattered throughout that would push Reyna in a big way. However, we all know how risky Premier League moves can be, particularly for players joining clubs outside of the true elite.

Money will not be an issue at Molineux while Reyna seems like a good fit for the way manager Gary O'Neil wants Wolves to play. And, with them sitting 11th, there shouldn't be a relegation risk like so many of his teammates experienced at Leeds last year. Because of that, it could be a good environment that balances challenge and comfort.

Like Lyon, another Sevilla is another giant that is currently struggling to a level that's hard to fathom. A team that always tends to be fighting near the top of La Liga while perennially winning the Europa League is this season in a mess.

They sit 17th in La Liga, staring down potential relegation. And their Europa League dreams? Already dashed, as a fourth-place finish in the Champions League group ended their European dreams.

Could Reyna be a good fit to help dig this big team out of their funk? Sure. But, once again, it does feel like a bit of a risk.

This is a tempting move, mainly because it would see Reyna link up with another USMNT star. Folarin Balogun was Monaco's big-money signing this past summer and, in an ideal world, the striker will be linking up with Reyna in the U.S. attack for the next decade. The two have already built plenty of chemistry in their short time together, with Reyna assisting the striker's first international goal.

Back in October, Balogun was asked about building chemistry with his USMNT teammates, and Reyna was the player he immediately named as his favorite to play alongside. "Top of my head, I really enjoy playing with Gio," he said.

Could that connection work at club level? Absolutely. Monaco, though, already have several attacking midfielders, players like youngsters Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche, as well as veterans Aleksandr Golovin and Takumi Minamino.

Because of that, there could be better overall fits, even if this one feels like it could be huge for the national team.

Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two or three forward. And, in this example, Benfica feels like it would be an ideal step back for Reyna to take.

How many clubs in the world are better at developing, and then selling, top-tier talent? Joao Felix, Enzo Fernandez, Darwin Nunez, Ruben Dias, Goncalo Ramos, Ederson... and that's just a small glimpse into their business over the last decade or so!

Benfica take players, polish them and then move them on. Reyna is, at the moment, a player looking for a bit of that polishing. A year or two in Lisbon could work wonders for him before an inevitable move back into the spotlight in a top league.

The question is if Reyna needs to take that step back to begin with, particularly with so many other suitors. He could very well opt to remain in a more prominent league, but should he choose it, a move to Benfica seems like a safe bet.

Real Sociedad could use a David Silva replacement... so could Reyna be the guy? Silva retired in July after rupturing his ACL, a horrible, horrible way to go for one of the game's greats. There's no replacing the Spanish maestro, on or off the field, but, despite his retirement, the club is doing well.

La Real are currently sixth in La Liga, while the club is also through to the Champions League round of 16, having finished atop a group featuring Inter, Benfica and Red Bull Salzburg, only to then earn a date with Paris Saint-Germain as a prize.

Real Sociedad can develop talent, having helped shape the careers of Antoine Griezmann, Xabi Alonso and, more recently, Alexander Isak. Reyna could be a fun fit, too, in a team that has no shortage of eye-catching attacking players, headlined by Mikel Oyarzabal and Takefusa Kubo.

Overall, it feels like a solid landing spot for what Reyna is looking for from his next club.