Category: Transfers

FC Cincinnati coach Noonan says Vazquez is ‘going to be gone’ if he keeps scoring

The 24-year-old will likely have European suitors after a breakout 2022 campaign

FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan is realistic about the prospects of keeping Brandon Vazquez around.

Vazquez just completed a breakout 2022 campaign that saw him tally 18 goals and eight assists in 33 games. At 24, the forward looks to be the right age to make a big-money move to Europe.

Though Noonan would clearly like to keep Vazquez around for the long term, the coach knows there could be offers that are simply too good to turn down.

“I would say that if he continues on this path, he’s going to be gone,” Noonan told the media on Wednesday. “That’s my guess. Do we want to lose him? No. If he continues in the form that he is in, he can produce for us for a long time and that’s what we want.”

Though he excelled at a position that’s hardly an area of strength for the U.S. national team, Vazquez will not be a part of the team’s World Cup roster barring anything truly unforeseen.

That could potentially open the door for Mexico, a country Vazquez is also eligible to represent through his parents.

Vazquez could have a choice of clubs to make soon as well as national teams. Though it could be a blow to his team on the field, Noonan has said he’d be happy to see the striker move on if the right opportunity arises.

“For Brandon, the person [and] the player, if other opportunities come about and he’s able to go onto something bigger and better, I think that’s fantastic,” Noonan said. “I think it’s a sign of players being able to be a part of our staff and this club, being in position to develop to play at a higher level, wherever that is, whatever that means.

“So, again, we want Brandon here for a long time. But when you score goals, others are going to take notice of that and he is going to be sought after.”

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USMNT U-20 attacker Caden Clark set for another loan after RB Leipzig return

The U.S. Under-20 attacker will return to RB Leipzig, but likely won’t be staying long

Caden Clark’s loan spell with the New York Red Bulls has ended, but it doesn’t appear that he’ll be staying at parent club RB Leipzig when he returns to Germany.

Clark was originally acquired by Leipzig last June, then loaned back to the Red Bulls for the remainder of the 2021 MLS season. Ahead of the 2022 campaign the teenager was sent on another loan to Leipzig’s sister club in MLS, this time for the entirety of the season.

But Clark played just 475 minutes for the Red Bulls in 2022, tallying one goal and two assists spread across 16 appearances (three starts).

A league source tells Pro Soccer Wire that Clark will be returning to RB Leipzig in January, but he is set to head on another loan. Teams in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands are eying a January move for the 19-year-old attacker.

Following the Red Bulls’ ho-hum loss at home in the playoffs last Saturday to FC Cincinnati, Clark posted a video to social media indicating he was leaving MLS again.

“It’s been a pleasure, thank you NY! Onto the next,” Clark said on Instagram.

Clark emerged as one of the top young talents in MLS after making his debut in 2020, earning a senior USMNT call-up last December.

In 47 league appearances (23 starts), Clark has seven goals and seven assists. But setbacks — including having his appendix removed last summer — have seemed to set Clark’s development back a bit.

Clark played a major role for the U.S. U-20 side this summer as it won the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, qualifying for the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics in the process.

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Kylian Mbappé is having some regrets about that PSG extension

Just five months after signing a new deal with PSG, the superstar forward wants out

Just five months after opting to stay at PSG, Kylian Mbappé wants to leave PSG.

That is according to, well, everyone. A flood of reports on Tuesday suggested the PSG superstar wants out at Parc des Princes, despite rejecting a move to Real Madrid in May in favor of a new three-year contract at PSG.

It’s been a trying season for Mbappé despite his usual goalscoring success. The 23-year-old has been frustrated with the role he’s played under coach Christophe Galtier, which he’s made clear with posts on social media.

There have been numerous reports that his relationship with Neymar has deteriorated, with the two stars feuding on the pitch early in the season over penalty-taking duties.

Mbappé also feels betrayed by PSG’s front office according to Marca, as sporting director Luis Campos, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Galtier all promised a host of signings over the summer that never materialized.

This doesn’t look like a player having a fun time.

Where could Mbappé go?

The forward reportedly wants to leave PSG as soon as possible, which would be this January. But where could he go?

Unsurprisingly, as ESPN reports, his preferred destination is the place he nearly went this summer, Real Madrid.

But Marca has said PSG’s relationship with Madrid has gone cold, in part due to the Liga club’s persistent recruitment of Mbappé in recent years.

The publication suggests Liverpool as a possible option, but the Merseyside club may struggle to afford the France international having recently made Mohamed Salah the most expensive player in club history with a new three-year deal worth about £350,000 a week.

In any case, Mbappé seems highly unlikely to actually leave PSG in January. But there is now abundant evidence that the superstar’s relationship with the club is badly damaged, if not broken. Five months after the Mbappé transfer saga seemingly ended, it is very much back up and running.

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Simeone basically admits Atlético benching Griezmann to avoid activating €40m purchase fee

Things are going to get real awkward unless there’s a solution soon

Antoine Griezmann is in an unenviable situation at Atlético Madrid.

Griezmann is back with Atlético in the second season of a two-year loan from Barcelona, but that loan contains a clause that is making life extremely awkward for him and his manager Diego Simeone right now.

Should Griezmann play more than 45 minutes in more than half of Atlético’s games over the two-season loan, then the club would be obliged to purchase him from Barca for €40 million.

And it’s pretty clear that Atlético would rather not pay that fee.

Griezmann has been used off the bench in all three of his appearances this season, during which he’s scored two goals. That comes after he started 21 of his 26 league games for Atlético last season.

As speculation over the club intentionally benching him grows, Simeone essentially confirmed that was the case in a press conference on Friday.

When asked if he was being told by Atlético higher-ups to limit the Frenchman’s minutes, Simeone said: “They have known me for 10 years. I am a club man and always will be.”

This situation, unsurprisingly, isn’t going down well with Griezmann. According to L’Equipe, the 31-year-old has asked Atlético to negotiate a lower fee with Barcelona and activate the purchase clause as soon as possible.

Here’s hoping that some kind of an agreement can be reached, because this is only going to get more awkward as the season goes on.

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Eddie Howe is mad teams are trying to milk Newcastle for all of its Saudi money

Strange things happen when your team is injected with an unending supply of funds

Newcastle coach Eddie Howe has accused his team’s rivals of artificially inflating the price of their players after the club was frustrated on transfer deadline day.

The Magpies fell short in their pursuit of several targets, including Leeds winger Jack Harrison, Leicester midfielder James Maddison, West Ham defender Harrison Ashby and Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

To Howe the reason none of those players are with Newcastle is clear: the club’s never-ending supply of Saudi money.

When asked if domestic clubs were making it difficult on his team, Howe told a press conference: “That’s true, I would say so. That was definitely something we felt in the market. Domestic clubs didn’t want to be seen to be helping us. We’ll have to take that, that is part of where we are at the moment.

“We have certainly found there is no one there ready to do us a favor. It’s the narrative regarding us that has changed. If there is anything domestically, teams will put their price up if it is Newcastle. That is the same around the world, that is something we are having to deal with.

“That is why we have walked away from a few deals because I think it is important we are not seen as that club that will pay what is asked. I think it has to be fair.”

Despite the deals that didn’t go through, Newcastle spent a fair amount in its first summer window since being taken over by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia last October.

Newcastle spent around £130 million on players, including £60m on striker Alexander Isak, while they didn’t generate any income on player sales.

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Sergiño Dest knew he had to get out of Barcelona

The USMNT defender said it was an easy decision to join AC Milan

Sergiño Dest has said joining AC Milan from Barcelona was an easy decision as he looks for more playing time ahead of the World Cup.

Dest completed a year-long loan move on deadline day, with the Italian champions holding an option to purchase the fullback.

The loan came amid Barcelona boss Xavi’s decision to freeze Dest out of his team, with the USMNT defender not even making the matchday squad for two of the club’s three games this season.

After making the move to Serie A, Dest admitted that he needed to find a place where he’d see the field as he eyes a starting spot for the USMNT in Qatar.

“It was an easy decision to make,” Dest told AC Milan’s official website, “Everything happened really quickly, like in one day. I had to make a decision really quick to change my life – to go to another club, in another country, in another culture. I love this club and it’s a club I wanted to play for when I was younger and I think this is a nice step for me and a good chance to play again.”

Dest added: “I need to get minutes for the World Cup. I need to play, not only for the World Cup, I just want to play always. They gave me a great opportunity so I didn’t even think twice. I was like, ‘I have to do it, I have to play.'”

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John Brooks finds his landing spot, signs with Benfica

Brooks is heading to the Portuguese giants

John Brooks has, at long last, found his next club.

The U.S. men’s national team center back, who became a free agent on July 1 after five seasons with Wolfsburg, has signed with Benfica on a one-year contract.

Brooks and Wolfsburg mutually announced that they would not be reaching a deal over a contract extension all the way back in March. Despite being linked with a few suitors over the summer—most credibly with Hoffenheim, while some flimsier rumors pointed towards Feyenoord or Saudi Arabia—it was mostly quiet for Brooks as the transfer window raged on throughout the summer.

However, the last two days of the transfer window got lively for him. First, Brooks seemed certain to sign for Mallorca, with reports going as far as to say that he was photographed at the Visit Mallorca Stadium.

Then, on deadline day, a dramatic reversal. Benfica reportedly came in at the last minute and won Brooks over. While league play in Portugal isn’t at the same level as what Brooks would have seen in LaLiga, the fact is that Benfica offers a guarantee of Champions League soccer this season, and a strong chance of being back there in years to come. Mallorca, who avoided relegation by a single point last year, can’t say the same.

Does this boost Brooks’ USMNT chances?

Finding an attack-minded club with real pressure to win the league may be the best answer Brooks has for Gregg Berhalter and the USMNT. Berhalter has not called Brooks in since September 2021, and in July told ESPN’s Fútbol Americas that among other things, he wanted to see Brooks improve when playing with a high line, as the USMNT intends to use.

Benfica is generally the aggressor in its league matches, so the high line issue should be answered one way or another. On the other hand, Brooks will join a team that already has six center backs vying for two spots in manager Roger Schmidt’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Veteran Nicolás Otamendi has partnered Morato in Champions League qualifying, while Lucas Veríssimo and João Victor return from injury. Jan Vertonghen is also at Benfica, but academy product António Silva got the nod alongside Otamendi in a recent 3-0 win at Boavista.

In other words, if Brooks can battle his way to a starting role here, he’s doing everything Berhalter has said he needs to do. It’s just a big “if” to be facing less than three months from the World Cup.

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AC Milan rescues Sergiño Dest from his Barcelona purgatory

The 21-year-old will join the Serie A champion on loan with an option to buy

Sergiño Dest has joined AC Milan on loan from Barcelona, the Italian club has announced.

The USMNT right back will join the Serie A champions on a season-long loan, with a €20 million purchase option at the end of the season that would see him sign a contract through 2027.

For Dest, a move away from Barcelona was badly needed after he was sidelined by head coach Xavi to begin the season.

When asked if Dest was an option at right back, Xavi said: “He knows what the situation is.”

With that message received loud and clear, the 21-year-old has opted to continue his career in Serie A after spending just over two seasons with Barcelona after joining from Ajax in 2020.

In Milan, Dest looks set to compete for minutes at right back with Alessandro Florenzi and Davide Calabria, though he has also shown the ability to play at left back.

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It’s transfer deadline day, so let’s track the big deals

Many teams have concluded their transfer business, but many more have not. Today is their day!

It’s deadline day! There have already been plenty of signings this transfer window but there’s nothing like a hard cutoff to get agents, teams and players scrambling.

We’ll be tracking all of the big moves here as teams look for that final piece to secure a title, stave off relegation, or just keep their supporters at bay.

USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi moves to Groningen on loan

Pepi’s heading to the Eredivisie

With the No. 9 role for the U.S. men’s national team up for grabs, Ricardo Pepi is on the move.

The USMNT striker is leaving Augsburg for a season-long loan with FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. Groningen did not announce further details, but Fabrizio Romano has reported there is no purchase clause involved in the deal.

“(Groningen) is a big club here in the Netherlands,” Pepi told the club’s site. “They’ve developed some great players: Luis Suarez, Virgil van Dijk, Arjen Robben. These are world-class players. I know this is a great club for me, and it’s gonna be a good season.”

“Ricardo is a great talent, who has an international reputation,” said Groningen technical director Mark-Jan Fledderus. “At the beginning of this month his name was mentioned to us and we have already had a conversation with him. Shortly afterwards his situation at Augsburg changed and his arrival seemed no longer an option for us. Until yesterday. We acted very quickly on this and last night Ricardo drove to Groningen to complete his transfer today.”

The move comes at a critical time for Pepi’s USMNT hopes. The competition for potential strikers on Gregg Berhalter’s roster for the World Cup is suddenly fierce, while Pepi’s candidacy has fallen off. Since making the jump from FC Dallas to Augsburg, Pepi hasn’t scored a goal at club level, and his last goal with the national team came back in October of last year.

Even with that drought and the addition of Bosnian striker Ermedin Demirovic as a new starter, Pepi had still appeared in every Augsburg match this season. However, he had clearly become a second-choice option for head coach Enrico Maassen, even with Augsburg generally playing with two strikers. So far this year, Pepi has 107 minutes spread across five appearances in all competitions, and only one start.

In that regard, a move to Groningen and the notoriously free-scoring Eredivisie makes sense. For one thing, Groningen needs the help: they’ve scored five goals in four games this season. It’s also a league where Americans have scored plenty of goals, going back to the days of Michael Bradley at Heerenveen and Jozy Altidore at AZ.

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