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Reports: Chelsea eyeing Donovan move

Landon Donovan 2 (ISIphotos.com)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

 

Multiple media outlets in England are reporting that Chelsea is targeting U.S. national team star Landon Donovan as a summer replacement for midfielder Joe Cole, who is rumored to be heading to Manchester United on a free transfer.

Donovan is closing in on the tail end of his current loan with Everton, with today's match against Hull City expected to be his final home game at Goodison Park before returning to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

According to multiple reports, including The Daily Mail, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has been impressed with Donovan's form since he's joined the Toffees this winter. Donovan enjoyed one of his best matches for Everton in the club's 2-1 win vs. Chelsea last month, setting up a goal and drawing a penalty in a Man of the Match-worthy performance.

What's our take? We have yet to independently confirm this one, and the UK transfer rumor mill can have a mind of its own, but Chelsea could be a very good destination for Donovan. He would fit in well with Ancelotti's style as a wide forward in a 4-3-3, and Chelsea is also capable of meeting what will likely to be costly transfer demands from MLS for Donovan. As it stands, it is unclear whether Everton would be willing or able to meet MLS' transfer fee requirements for Donovan.

What do you think of this rumor? Like the idea of Donovan joining Chelsea? Still hoping he winds up with Everton?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. No way in hell does he go to CHelsea. With their green pockets, Chelsea will be shopping Adrica or Champions League teams for stars to fill any openings. Anyway, It would be a terrible move for Landon if it were to materialize. He wouldn’t get much time in the first team. I know MLS will want to ca$h in on a Donovan tranfer, and Everton can’t afford such transfer fees, but he is better off at Everton, Craven’s Cottage or Westham.

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  2. As pleased as I am with Chelsea showing interest in Donovan, I think it would be a bad move for him. I think he is more than capable of playing well for Chelsea, but I don’t think Chelsea’s players and fans could make him feel as welcome as Everton’s did.

    The idea of him playing at a top 4 club is really cool. But what I’d like to see, and what I believe is very possible given Liverpool’s recent dip in form this year, is for LD to stay (or come back to) Everton and help take them to the top 4.

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  3. Hate Chelsea – any other club in the Premier League would be favorable. OK, so not the relegation-zone dwellers. Hopefully he can return to Everton, or if he has to go big 4 (which would be great if he can get/stay on the pitch), at least make it Arsenal!

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  4. In a perfect world I watch the Liverpool-Chelsea match up in the morning then drive down o RFK and watch United beat up on LD and Beckham and the LA Galaxy.

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  5. I agree to a point with what you said but as a fan of the US and any pro league that we have I am for MLS developing into more than a developmental league and it will only accomplish this if and when we can keep some of our best players over here playing.

    And I understand your Liverpool – Chelsea argument but I wasn’t ever saying that LA vs RSL is on par or better than the EPL match up as it should not be.

    Liverpools 2009 payroll – 75 million

    MLS (the entire league) – 48 million

    I would hope there is more star power with that money difference.

    However I much rather have watched LA vs RSL then what Hull put on the field yesterday at Goodison outside of peaking at Altidore every 5-10 minutes as the ball went sailing over his head.

    LD can improve in England but also in the US and still has things to prove such as a Cup with Beckham and I’m sure he wants to get that missed PK out of his head from the Cup final as well.

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  6. I’m sure that Chelsea is also interested in the ‘Donovan’ brand. From a marketability standpoint, it’s genius. Chelsea already fill stadiums in the US, this move might blow the roof off their US popularity. Think of how many Chelsea “Donovan” jerseys would be sold? Donovan is THE most popular American soccer player in the US (by far), and he’s the only US player to break into the US mainstream sports world. He could be to Chelsea that Matsui is to the Yankees.
    All that said, I like him better at Everton.
    It will be interesting to see how much all this press has effected his popularity in the US also.

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  7. I like Everton better than Chelsea as a club, but certainly Chelsea would demand a lot of Donovan as a player, and if he could meet that standard, it would be a new height for a US soccer player.

    In my mind I think about the Drogba/Anelka scoring sequences – could Lando deliver those kind of final passes and finishes? How ambitious and inspired is Landon?

    I fear EPL clubs realize they can put Landon in a squad and instantly increase their Neilsen ratings for games on FSC. That said, Landon is not a bad bet for a squad, he has potential not yet realized.

    I think this is just crazy rumor mill though

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  8. I love the fact that this is a rumor making the rounds in England football news.
    Great buzzzzzz for Donovan, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK CAKES!!

    I have fun imagining him connecting with anelka and drogba…how sick.
    I don’t want him at any parties with Terry however.

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  9. Please… please…. Everton and MLS get it done… he would be a key cog at Everton.. at Chelsea there is always the chance of being caught up in the numbers game… and their Chelsea… who wants to root for them?

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  10. Can you believe how far we (well, I guess it’s actually Landon)have come in a few months? It seems almost unreal that now we’re speaking of a pretty strong EPL team (have to be considered European contenders after next season) as a “safe” place for Donovan! Go back a few months and all of the do-we-dare-even-imagine it day-dreaming would have been about Everton, not Chelsea!

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  11. While I don’t know if this would result in a great amount of playing time, it would be interesting.

    Post-WC it seems like a good idea. Gives him a chance to really prove himself. Worst case he gets out after a few years and gets some PT before 2014, his final WC.

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