ASN: Previewing the January switch window: which People might be shifting?

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta appears on the January switch window and breaks down the People who might be on the transfer

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Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 01, 2025
9:05 AM

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WHEN LOOKING AHEAD to the January switch window, it’s powerful to get a learn on precisely what number of American gamers shall be on the transfer. The issue is that there are two sorts of transfers – gamers pushing upward after a formidable fall and gamers attempting to get out of dangerous conditions at golf equipment the place they’re not significantly rated. Sadly, too many gamers are within the latter class and that makes it tougher to foretell.

From a USMNT perspective, issues are secure as most of the largest questions resolved themselves in 2024. Weston McKennie resettled at Juventus. Brenden Aaronson returned to Leeds and is doing nicely. Whereas injured, Sergino Dest is at PSV on a everlasting deal. Malik Tillman can be doing nicely with PSV on a everlasting deal. Mark McKenzie made a pleasant transfer up from Belgium to Toulouse.

Amongst these seeking to break into the group, Tanner Tessmann, Auston Trusty, and Aidan Morris have been each profitable in shifting in the summertime and are secure, in the intervening time. Paxten Aaronson has hit a house run along with his mortgage to Utrecht.

When trying on the extra established USMNT participant pool, most gamers are in a secure spot. Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Tyler Adams, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Chris Richards, Joe Scally, Sergino Dest, and Tim Ream are all in secure membership conditions.

Of these USMNT regulars in good membership conditions who might be seeking to make a transfer up, Antonee Robinson, Malik Tillman, Johnny Cardoso, and Ricardo Pepi are almost certainly.44

The checklist of these within the common USMNT pool just isn’t massive. Gio Reyna, Luca de la Torre, Matt Turner, and Ethan Horvath would all match that description. Kristoffer Lund is a borderline name.

Many of the switch exercise, nonetheless, will possible contain gamers who’re on the  outer fringe of the USMNT pool and may have to make a transfer to place their profession again on an upward trajectory. Good examples of this could be Taylor Sales space, Rokas Pukstas, Bryan Reynolds, Gaga Slonina, and so on.

Listed here are my ideas on the almost certainly targets.

Potential January Transfers

Antonee Robinson: With Pulisic locked in at Milan, Robinson is probably the most high-profile American participant who may transfer in 2025. There is a wonderful case that he’s the highest left again within the Premier League by means of the primary 5 months of 2024/25 and is now captaining Fulham. He suits what most groups need in a contemporary fullback. He’s possible going to land at Champions League membership in 2025. The almost certainly wager, for me, is that he finishes the season at Fulham and strikes in the summertime. Nevertheless it’s not out of the realm of prospects that somebody makes the Cottagers a proposal they’ll’t refuse.

Maloney is fascinating as a result of he’s not for each membership. He does quite a lot of the soiled work that small golf equipment have to compete above their weight. He’s not going to seek out a lot of a necessity at big-budget golf equipment. Some coaches would love a Maloney-type participant, others received’t. Maloney must discover a membership that has a coach who’s in a secure place and who’ve a system the place the defensive midfielder isn’t required to be closely concerned in offense, transition, or difficult possession. The market won’t be massive for him, but it surely exists. It’s onerous to see quite a lot of minutes obtainable for him at a membership that’s considerably higher than Heidenheim.

He is a uncommon scenario the place he’s neither attempting to get out of a nasty membership scenario nor has he outgrown Heidenheim. He in all probability simply needs to see what else is on the market whereas he nonetheless can.

As for the USMNT, it’s too early to see if Maloney is a participant that Mauricio Pochettino needs.

Luca de la Torre: De la Torre is a participant who wants a transfer for lots of causes. It might be extraordinarily stunning if he’s nonetheless at Celta Vigo come February. The warning indicators have been there in August when it was reported that new supervisor Claudio Giráldez González didn’t fee de la Torre and the membership hoped to maneuver him. Then within the fall, de la Torre battled an damage. He’s wholesome now, however minutes are nonetheless few are far between.

This has come at a nasty time for him with the USMNT as different midfielders like Aidan Morris and Tanner Tessmann have emerged and sure moved previous de la Torre.

De la Torre, 26, has to maneuver, however the place? His membership profession remains to be fairly spotty – he by no means caught with Fulham, he was relegated within the Eredivisie with Heracles, and he’s been in two relegation battles in La Liga (with the group bettering solely after he fell out of favor). There’s a marketplace for him in Europe,  however in all probability not a really excessive degree as a starter. In the meantime, the brand new San Diego FC group in his hometown is ready for its inaugural season. Cash shall be an element.

Gio Reyna: The Borussia Dortmund playmaker is hard to learn because of him lacking a lot of the first half of the season with an damage. He is since returned (even scoring a aim) however minutes aren’t common but. Is that because of the membership not score him, or are they manaing his minutes? Dortmund would possible promote Reyna if the cash was there, and it is onerous to see massive provides for him given his damage troubles and his poor mortgage final season to Nottingham Forest. A transfer this January is feasible, however is actually not a certain factor. It would make sense after the season, as soon as he is ready to play extra. However Reyna is now 22 and must discover a place the place he can play commonly. 

Ricardo Pepi: There have been studies of PSV being serious about promoting Ricardo Pepi within the fall, however that has since quieted. There’s good motive for that as Pepi has performed extraordinarily nicely and Luuk de Jong has quieted a little bit bit. Pepi is now additionally taking part in extra and is continuous to attain. PSV cannot rely as a lot on de Jong as they’ve and increasingly, Pepi appears to be able to be a key contributor. He is nonetheless one to observe this month, however a transfer can be stunning. 

Rokas Pukstas: The Hajduk Cut up attacking midfielder appeared all set to be transferred in the summertime with the membership’s sporting director even occurring document saying that the Oklahoma native was going to be bought. The rumored goal was newly promoted Parma in Serie A, however the Italian membership’s supply wasn’t sufficient. The issue heading into this winter is that for Pukstas, 20, his numbers and affect haven’t been nearly as good as final season. He nonetheless could make Hajduk cash, however the subject is whether or not the Croatian membership is keen to come back down in its asking worth. It’s onerous to see a deal occurring in the event that they don’t. In the event that they do, Pukstas can nonetheless make a pleasant transfer upward – probably right into a high league given his youth. It would take him a while to regulate, however he has an upside.

Taylor Sales space: The current Olympic group winger/attacking midfielder finds himself in a troublesome spot the place he’s possible on his manner out at Utrecht because the membership has acquired Miliano Jonathans in his place.

Dutch report signifies they suppose Taylor Sales space is on his manner out at Utrecht this winter because of the membership’s signing of Miliano Jonathans from Vitesse.

“With the arrival of Jonathans, FC Utrecht has a surplus of wingers, which seems to put an end to Taylor Booth’s stay at the… pic.twitter.com/EtyliPZmcl

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) December 17, 2024

Sales space, 23, has had success within the Eredivisie and this implies he may have suitors throughout the league. The very fact he has an EU passport will increase his choices in Europe and within the Eredivisie. The issue is that he has struggled with accidents in current seasons. Proper now, his finest choices are possible elsewhere within the Eredivisie, Belgium, high second divisions, or MLS.

Johnny Cardoso: The New Jersey-born central midfielder, 23, reportedly has an settlement that permits him to maneuver to Tottenham for a set worth. He’s doing nicely at Actual Betis and has been on a gentle development upward. It’s simple to see him making one other transfer up earlier than later, however after the season appears extra possible.

Bryan Reynolds: The previous FC Dallas fullback can use a change of surroundings as he has stagnated a little bit bit at Westerlo. The studies (which ASN can confirm are correct) that he’ll possible transfer – the possible goal is Sparta Prague however groups within the Championship are additionally in pursuit. The Belgian Professional League is healthier than the Czech Liga, however Sparta has extra potential to win and play in Europe.

John Tolkin: The New Jersey left again had one more good season with the New York Purple Bulls. We thought he can be bought after final season, however he returned to RBNY and performed even higher – main the Purple Bulls to MLS Cup whereas additionally solidifying a beginning spot on the U.S. Olympic group. RBNY received’t stand in his manner if a great supply comes. However he must get that supply.

Richard Ledezma: Ledezma has helped his case tremendously to begin 2024/25 the place he has performed 773 minutes within the Eredivisie, 149 minutes within the Champions League, and 76 minutes within the Dutch Cup. It principally has come out of place at proper again the place he’s studying the place shortly. He solely often performed in his attacking midfield place. However the query is now what’s subsequent? He’s within the final yr of his contract and may negotiate with golf equipment in January. The wrinkle in his scenario is that PSV should pay him the minimal non-EU wage, which could be very excessive. If he was an EU participant, PSV nearly actually would wish to maintain him. However as a non-EU participant, it’s a troublesome determination. If he claims the beginning proper again job, he may get PSV to drag the set off. It turns into tougher if he’s a long-term backup (with Sergino Dest returning within the subsequent month or two).

Ledezma has given himself extra leverage to barter and we can have a good suggestion of his subsequent steps in January.

Jack McGlynn: The Philadelphia Union midfielder has performed quite a bit with the Union and earned a spot on the 2024 Olympic group. He’s proven quite a lot of promise as nicely. There aren’t any concrete rumors but, however there’s hypothesis that it wouldn’t be stunning if provides are available quickly. The at all times dependable Jonathan Tannenwald has been beating this drum for some time now.

Gaga Slonina: The American goalkeeper lately had his mortgage to Barnsley terminated and whereas he had a couple of good video games, it wasn’t a great mortgage. His first mortgage to Eupen final season was powerful to fee because the membership was in poor form and there wasn’t a lot any goalkeeper may have carried out for them. He’s younger and issues can nonetheless go his manner, however he in all probability would have been higher remaining with the Chicago Fireplace, the place he was a starter and was bettering. He actually wants his subsequent transfer to be nicely thought out.

Matai Akinmboni: The U.S. U-20 central defender is probably going shifting this winter from DC United to AFC Bournemouth.  The query then turns into what’s the finest route for enjoying time as soon as he joins the Premier League membership? It’s too dangerous he didn’t get many minutes with DC United as a result of if he was a starter, he may have stayed and developed extra at dwelling earlier than making the transfer to a membership the place he may then begin.

Brandon Vazquez: The U.S. worldwide ahead has struggled for constant minutes at Monterrey regardless that his numbers have been fairly good. All indicators level to an exit and Vazquez possible has his most worth again in america the place he has confirmed to be efficient.  

Matthew Hoppe: 4 years in the past, Hoppe earned a wave of headlines after he scored a hat trick within the Bundesliga as a young person with Schalke. Since then, he has struggled mightily to slot in wherever (Mallorca, Middlesbrough, a mortgage to San Jose, and in his return to Boro). He must get out of Boro, drop to a degree the place he can play. Boro would like to get him off the books too. It’s as much as Hoppe to make some powerful selections.

Leo Duru: The U.S. U-20 proper again is at Blackburn and appeared to trace a mortgage might be doable for him to assist him proceed his growth. That may make sense as he’ll flip 20 in January and wishes first group minutes.