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Five MLS players who should be playing in Europe this season

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The most exciting MLS players who could be heading to Europe in the transfer window



Thiago Almada (left) and an Arsenal player during the 2023 MLS All-Star Game. (David)


Over the past couple of years, European clubs have often turned to the MLS in the search of players, and with January now upon us and the MLS season wrapped up, it only means one thing. The European transfer window is upon us, and clubs will start swooping around the next best talent from across the Atlantic in the hope of boosting their season. Here are five players that could be on the move over the next month.

 

Thiago Almada

Thiago Almada has had an incredible 12 months, from ending 2022 as a World Champion to then heading into 2024 as the MLS Young Player of the Year, and all this happened after he arrived at Atalanta United as the most expensive MLS player ever.

But after recording 12 goals and 16 assists in 33 league games, the Argentinian midfielder has made it clear that his MLS chapter might be nearing an end. “I want to go to Europe now. Yes, now in this upcoming transfer window, I want to go now,” Almada said, with Atalanta United president Garth Lagerway believing the 22-year-old has produced the numbers that would see him sold as the most expensive outbound transfer in the MLS.

Miguel Almiron holds the current record, where he moved from Atlanta to Newcastle for$27 million, but against the wishes of Almada, it looks unlikely that his first venture into Europe will be in the Premier League. Ajax were reportedly close to signing him last summer before they bought Georges Mikautadze from Metz. However, with the form the Argentinian has shown throughout the 2023 campaign, interest will only increase.



Whoever manages to grab the midfielder will be getting hold of a player who is a really strong, weaving dribbler who has also been able to add a ruthless end product to his game. His range of passing can unlock defences in a myriad of ways, and he is especially lethal when operating on the left side of the pitch.

Noel Buck

To be chased by Manchester City and Arsenal at the age of 18 must indicate that you have some talent, and luckily for New England Revolutions Noel Buck has managed to show that in his impressive start in senior football. Despite being born in Massachusetts, the young midfielder has represented England Under 19s on six occasions, playing alongside Kobbie Mainoo, Jobe Bellingham and JackHinshelwood, and not looking out of place.

He is the only one of that under-19 group who plays abroad, and during his time in the Revs’ first team, he has shown how useful he can be as a midfielder who operates in both boxes and has a coolness to him that suggests he has been playing at this level for years.

The traits he has shown in his 25 games are a reason why the interest from Arsenal and Man City hasn’t gone away, with Bundesliga clubs also exploring this exciting new MLS talent.

Brandon Vazquez

For two years now Brandon Vazquez has put in performances that have seen Brentford and Borussia Monchengladbach both looking to potentially buy the Cincinnati star. He broke into the USA national team last year, thanks to a record of 26 goals and 12 assists in 62 league games, and if interested clubs are persuaded by the form, they will be met with an organisation who are open to selling their assets.

Brenner left Cincy for Udinese midway through last season, and after the club finished as the best team in the East, it’ll be a task to keep hold of their new powerful forward.

Despite the interest from Europe, it looks like his destination will be in Mexico with Monterrey. The Liga MX side will be getting a player who is combative and strong in the air but also has great awareness when bringing others into play. As a youth player who would often occupy a position just behind the striker or in a wide area, which has allowed him to efficiently link up with players around him and also drop deep to play through-balls to forward runners.

Vazquez showed last year that even when he is not on the scoresheet, he is able to affect a game, which will be an attractive skill that potential suitors will be looking for.

Jesus Ferriera

One of Vazquez’s rivals for the USMNT striker spot is Jesus Ferreira, and similarly to the Cincinnati man he has been watched closely by European clubs. An FC Dallas youth product, the 23-year-old has been a consistent part of the senior side since 2019 but has really started to show his talent in the past two seasons, as he racked up 13 goals this year on top of his tally of 18 in the previous season.

This record has seen Napoli show interest in him, with Victor Osimhen often linked with moves away from Naples. It is unlikely that if Ferreria moved to Italy, he would be able to replicate the form of the Nigerian straightaway, but he has the potential to become a player who will lead the line for a leading Seria A club in the future.

But sometimes players are too keen to jump to a big club whenever possible, without thinking of the potential pressures and settling in process. Ricardo Pepi, who was less established at Dallas than Ferreira currently is, struggled with his first move to Europe but after taking a step back has now translated his talents across the Atlantic. If Napoli is too big of a step for Ferreira, he could join Pepi in the Eredivisie and get used to playing in Europe away from the limelight.

Facundo Torres

Facundo Torres is one of the many players who have used the MLS as a stepping stone to Europe from South America. The winger signed for Orlando City in 2022 and by the end of the season, Arsenal were reportedly weighing up a move for the 23-year-old as someone who can play across the forward line.

He stayed at Orlando and provided an even more impressive personal season, hitting the net 14 times in the league, whilst also showing an ability on the ball that suggests a move to Europe in the future is almost inevitable.

The Uruguayan, who has been part of Marcelo Bielsa’s national team squad, often plays on the right-hand side, which allows him to cut in and create problems for opposing defenders in a more central position. He has similarities to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka in the sense that when rushed with multiple opponents he always looks calm and in control of the ball, and even if Arsenal don’t go in for the attacker, there will be plenty of interest in Torres. 

 

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The cover image for this post was sourced from Wikimedia Commons under the

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International licence

(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MLS_All-Star_Game_2023-07-19_Thiago_Almada_Martin_Martin_%C3%98degaard_(53062996583).jpg), and is attributed to the author, David. It was retrieved by me on the 26th June 2023.

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