Besler Linked with Sunderland and Fulham

The news on whether Matt Besler stays or goes continues to be a talking point among Sporting KC and US national team fans. The latest news has been coming from Greg Seltzer. Last week, Seltzer shot down the rumored move to Freiberg for Besler. He said that Freiberg isn't even looking for a central defender at this time.

Seltzer is also saying that Sporting is asking for what would be a club record fee. The club record fee is $6 million that the club received from Fulham back in 2008 for Eddie Johnson.

Seltzer had an update to the situation today, naming two of the clubs interested in Besler, and an apparently deadline in the proceedings. Seltzer said that there are 10 clubs interested in Besler at this time. Only one of those nine teams is in the Bundesliga, the other nine are apparently in England. He names two of those by name, Sunderland, who has apparently not put in a bid yet for the defender, and recently relegated side, Fulham, who have apparently put in a bid. A move to Sunderland would see him join fellow World Cup veteran, Jozy Altidore who joined the club ahead of last season.

For me, Sunderland would be an interesting, but rough move for Besler. Sunderland performed a great escape last year, avoiding the drop with some big results down the stretch, but the question will be whether they've improved the rest of the squad as well so they aren't in that situation this season. With Fulham you're going to a recently relegated side who likely will be a favorite to yo-yo right back to the Premier League in the 2015-2016 season. Besler could certainly play a role in that.

I'm still not sure which way that Besler is going to end up going, but according to Seltzer we won't have to wait long. Besler apparently has a deadline of this coming Monday for when he's going to make a decision.

End of the Year Look at 2008 Wishes

2008 is almost over, which means I need to look back at my wishes for 2008.

1. Save Bannister Mall Petition Fails - As I said in my mid-year review, the petition failed early in 2008, and we haven't heard from Richard Tolbert since that failure. Now with everything secured, it looks like we won't have to worry about him at all.

2. Public Ground Breaking for the Wizards SSS in Early 08 - Well that didn't happen, wasn't even close. Looks like we won't have a ground breaking until some time this coming year due to all the monetary delays.

3. Eddie Johnson Stays in KC - Again as I said in the mid-year review, Johnson is gone, went to Fulham, and this season has been loaned out to Cardiff City, where he still hasn't scored, and is struggling to get off the bench. Johnson hasn't scored a league goal since his 93rd minute penalty kick goal against Columbus on September 15th of 2007.

4. More Consistent Goal Scoring - This one didn't happen either. The Wizards weren't able to get consistent goalscoring from anyone on the team. With Davy Arnaud being the team's top goalscorer with only 7 goals, this one has to go down as an unfulfilled wish.

5. Good Start to US Qualifying for South Africa 2010 - Well the US is into the Hex without much trouble. The US won their first 4 games of qualifying clinching their spot in the Hex with 2 games to play. Qualifying will start back up in February with the US taking on Mexico in Columbus, OH.

6. Some Silverware - The Saturn Cup and New Mexico Cup don't count, the Wizards ended the season without any silverware. They finished in the regular season 15 points behind Supporters' Shield winners, Columbus and were eliminated by them in the MLS Cup playoffs. The Wizards other chance for silverware was in the US Open Cup. They went out in the quarterfinals to Seattle Sounders.

7. A Friendly Against a Foreign Team for the Wizards - As I said I mid-year, I wasn't happy about the timing of it, but the Wizards did have their first home friendly since 1997 when they took on sister club Atlas.

8. Sell Outs at CAB - We had sell outs, but not the number I was hoping for or expecting. The Wizards sold out 5 games at CAB this year. Definitely not a great number. Hopefully next year the Wizards will do better in that regard.

Eddie Johnson to Fulham FINAL

Fulham has just announced that Eddie Johnson has been granted his work permit and signed by the club.

Johnson won his appeal to get a work permit today. He's signed a three and half year deal, which will keep Johnson at Craven Cottage until 2011. After drawing interest in the summer from Derby County, the rumors had picked up again this January, with him being linked to Derby, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Reading, Benfica, and even a passing mention of Liverpool. It's the Cottagers, though, that have gotten Johnson's signature. The rumor is that it's a 3 million pound transfer deal. Or about $6 million US.

The focus for the Wizards now turns to filling the 15 goals and 6 assists that Johnson contributed last year to the Wizards. Can Iván Trujillo fill enough of that hole? Or are the Wizards also looking elsewhere hoping to find more scoring punch?

UPDATE: Ives is reporting in the comments section of his post on this that there is NO transfer fee. According to Ives, "No transfer fee folks. Johnson bought out his own contract and basically pocketed what would have been the transfer fee. Great bit of business on his part."

UPDATE 2: Apparently Johnson's buy out was $4 million US, so the Wizards and MLS do get that amount in regards to Johnson leaving.

Johnson to Fulham Not Dead

The big news today has been Fulham's signing of Watford forward Marlon King for 5 million pounds. The belief among many people has been that with this deal done, that Eddie Johnson's move to Fulham would now be off, since both players are forwards.

According to Ives Galarcep, that is NOT the case. Apparently the hold up at this time is Johnson's work permit issues. Johnson has only played in 72% of the US team's official matches, short of the mandated 75%. Johnson is set to appeal the decision with the work permit tribunal. So things are not dead, and it still looks like Johnson will be moving to England.

UPDATE: The Times in the UK also says that the deal is still on. According to the Times, the move is subject to a medical and work permit. Fee wise, Fulham and the Wizards are working on a deal between 2.5 to 3 million pounds. And here's another link from Vital Fulham saying the deal is close.

Eddie Johnson News

Figured I hadn't mentioned Eddie Johnson much so I thought I'd give an update of his situation. As mentioned earlier, Johnson left the US training camp to head to England to work on the move to Fulham. Since then, rumors have flown about what the transfer fee will be, ranging from $3 million to $6 million for the striker. Still, though, the final word has not come through that Johnson is indeed gone. But pretty much ever source that I've seen write on it (too many to link in one post), has said that it's basically a done deal, and Fulham will make Johnson their 5th American signing. With the trade for the number 1 pick, the Wizards look to be moving on as if Johnson is not going to be there as well.

Eddie Johnson to Fulham

Steven Goff, of the Washington Post, is reporting that Eddie Johnson has left the US men's national team camp in LA. Goff is reporting that Johnson has left because of ongoing serious discussions with Fulham, aka Team USA England. If these rumors are true, Johnson could become the fifth American on the Cottagers, joining Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Kasey Keller, and Brian McBride.

Johnson Transfer Expected Any Day Now

Eddie Johnson leaving Kansas City looks more and more likely with each and every day. Today comes news that a deal for Johnson could be completed within the week. The article only mentions 3 out of the multitude of English sides that have been rumored to be interested in the striker. Fulham, Derby, and Reading are the ones listed in the article. The article quotes a source close to the situation saying that a deal could come "any day now." In regards to Reading, it brings up the same point that I've brought up before, that a move by Reading is contingent on Leroy Lita leaving the club during this window. According to the article, the sale of Lita appears imminent, which would make Reading a likely target.

Reading would be the best place for Johnson to land in my opinion. While Reading is fighting for survival in the BPL, they aren't in as dire a situation as Fulham and Derby are. Johnson would be able to ease himself into the English game at Reading, as he'd likely be the third striker behind Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson.

More Johnson Transfer Talk

Here are a few more links to rumors of where Eddie Johnson will be going in this current transfer window.

More Eddie Johnson to Fulham news. According to this rumor, Fulham is after Liverpool winger, Harry Kewell. If that deal falls through for the Cottagers, Roy Hodgson will be going after Johnson instead for 1.5 million pounds. I don't know if I see Kewell leaving Liverpool, so this could possibly happen, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Derby County back in the race for Johnson. After being turned down by Johnson in the summer, new Derby manager Paul Jewell has renewed the team's interest in Johnson. Jewell is ready to team Johnson up with fellow Americans, Eddie Lewis and Benny Feilhaber.

I'll try to keep updated on all the teams linked to Johnson during the window. The list of teams is now up to 6, 5 English (Fulham, Middlesbrough, Manchester City, Reading, and Derby County) and 1 Portuguese team (Benfica).

It's January, Eddie Johnson Transfer Talks Begin

With the January transfer window now open, it's time to again hear all the rumors of where Eddie Johnson will go to in Europe. In the Times online in the UK, it has a few of the parties that are interested in the services of the Wizards striker.

Among those interested are Fulham, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Reading, and Benfica. Fulham would be an interesting choice, as he'd be teaming back up with running mate and fellow national teamer, Clint Dempsey. Along with Carlos Bocanegra and Kasey Keller. Manchester City would be an interesting fit for Johnson, as they are definitely a club that look to be on the rise. They do need to bring in a striker during the window in my opinion, but is Johnson going to be the impact type of striker the Citizens need to push them towards Liverpool and the number 4 spot?

Middlesbrough needs a lot of help in this window to avoid the drop and I don't see Johnson being able to provide that help much. It'd be an interesting fit for him, though, and he'd have a chance to definitely make an impact. With Leroy Lita still rumored to be leaving the Madejski Stadium this January, Reading could use another striker. Johnson could fit in well providing a late spark off the bench for the Royals. Finally, Benfica, who were rumored to have offered a big fee for Johnson a few years ago. I don't follow the Portuguese league much, but a move to Benfica would team him up with another national teamer in Freddy Adu.

Of the 5 listed, I think the best situation for Johnson might be Reading, especially if Lita leaves. But there are still a lot of questions to be asked. Of those teams, where do you think Johnson fits in best?