Kenny Cooper is headed back to England, well, sort of.
Cooper is on the verge of making a transfer move to Welsh club Cardiff City, which plays in England’s Coca-Cola Championship First Division, sources with knowledge of the transfer told SBI on Monday. The transfer fee is between $3 and $4 million. (Update-Cooper is not in Europe today. He is in Frisco, Texas.)
Cooper’s representatives traveled to Wales on Monday to finalize contract negotiations with Cardiff City (Cooper is still in Texas), which finished 12th in the English First Division last season, and sources tell SBI that the sides are finalizing the contract, which would clear the way for the transfer to be completed.
The deal would end a tug-of-war between Cardiff City and Norwegian power Rosenborg, which had been the favorites to land Cooper initially.
Cooper returns to English soccer some three years after leaving Manchester United and signing with FC Dallas. He has notched 11 goals and three assists for the Hoops this season and has recorded 26 goals and nine assists in 63 matches for FC Dallas.
Cardiff City, which reached the FA Cup final before losing to Portsmouth last spring, will call on Cooper to help replace English legend Robbie Fowler and Dutch forward Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink.
I think it is the right decision for Cooper, who would have the chance to play one level below the Premier League, with a chance to help Cardiff City gain promotion, or earn himself a transfer to an established team in the English Premier League.
What do you think about Cooper going to Cardiff City? Is it a good move? Should he have gone to Rosenborg instead? Should he stay in MLS?