Sources: Freiburg makes bid for Rapids teenager Bassett

Bundesliga side SC Freiburg has made a summer transfer bid for Colorado Rapids teenager Cole Bassett, sources have confirmed to Goal.

The 17-year-old central midfielder has enjoyed a breakout season with the Colorado Rapids, earning regular minutes as one of the youngest players in Major League Soccer. Bassett has started nine matches for the Rapids in 2019, registering a goal and two assists.

Any transfer of Bassett to Freiburg would have to wait until July 28 — when Bassett turns 18 — to be finalized.

Bassett has been on Freiburg's radar since he spent time training with the Bundesliga club after the 2018 MLS season, making a strong enough impression to emerge as a transfer target.

Having just turned pro in August 2018 after signing a five-year homegrown player contract with the Rapids, Bassett played sparingly in 2018, but has been a regular for the Rapids in 2019. He has continued to earn playing time even after the team fired former coach Anthony Hudson, replacing him with interim coach Conor Casey, who has helped lead the Rapids to an undefeated record (4-0-2) since taking charge.

Freiburg is no stranger to young American talent, having signed U.S. Under-20 national team standout Alex Mendez in 2018, and having previously signed current U.S. national team goalkeeper Zack Steffen as a teenager before he eventually moved to Major League Soccer to sign with the Columbus Crew (Steffen has since moved on to Manchester City in a $10 million deal).

If Bassett does make a move to Freiburg, he would become the latest in a wave of American teenagers to make the jump to Germany, following a path taken by the likes of Bayern Munich and U.S. Under-20 defender Chris Richards, Hannover 96 teammates and U.S. Under-20 standouts Sebastian Soto and Chris Gloster, and RB Leipzig and U.S. national team midfielder Tyler Adams, who enjoyed a successful move to the Bundesliga in January at the age of 19.

The flow of American teenagers moving to Bundesliga clubs is already set to continue this summer, with U.S. Under-20 winger Ulysses Llanez set to complete his move to Wolfsburg in July, and U.S. Under-17 star Giovanni Reyna set to finalize his move to Borussia Dortmund in July as well.