Landon Donovan is about to get ready for another run at an MLS Cup title with the Los Angeles Galaxy, but that isn't keeping him from considering his options after the current MLS season.
In an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside, Donovan admitted that he would find it difficult to turn down a chance to return to Everton, where he spent part of last season on loan.
"It would be hard to say no," Donovan told the radio show when asked about possibly returning to Goodison Park.
Everton will be in need of some cover come the second half of the season, with striker Tim Cahill due to miss time to play in the Asia Cup, and with Steven Pienaar's future with the club still uncertain. Donovan flourished as a wing midfielder for Everton last season, but can also provide cover at forward for the Toffees.
Another loan move isn't guaranteed as Donovan must still weigh the benefits of taking an extended break this winter after going most of the past ten months without much of a break at all.
What do you think of this development? Do you like the idea of Donovan going to Everton on loan again, or would you rather he make a permanent move to Europe? Think a long winter rest is the best move for him?
Share your thoughts below.
I hear that SAF may have an opening at Man United in January that could be permanent.
I’m a Galaxy fan and watch every game, and as much as I love having the opportunity to the HDC and see LD up close, he really needs to go back to Everton. After all the big games he played in during his loan stint, and then South Africa, he just seems bored playing against the likes of the Kansas City Wizards. He has a great gig in LA: making millions, living in Manhattan Beach, enjoying his status as the “American soccer hero”, but this will all be there for him when he’s 35. Landon is in his prime; I want to see him play against the best, in big game atmospheres, and push his game to the level we all know he can. Last season he proved himself as a capable EPL starter; now its time to show the world his true quality. I don’t want to denigrate MLS, but Landon lighting it up on the Galaxy is like Doug Flutie dominating with the Calgary Stampeders when he had the skills (which he showed later on) to lead an NFL team. I love watching Deuce and Holden on Saturday mornings, and they’ve been great, but Landon is the best player we have and deserves the same showcase. I’ll always support LD, but while the Galaxy fan in me wants him to stay, the soccer and Landon Donovan fan in me wants him to go back to Everton.
My guess is you have never played competitively. My experience is that you are always pushing for opportunities to play at a higher level. I am 41, and I still occasionally try-out for higher level leagues. (With varying and ever-diminishing success!)
Yes. This past WC was the peak for Lando. We will need someone to step into his shoes for 2014. I am sure he will be playing, but at 32, we will need someone new to be the spark. So I feel that he has the right to do whatever he wants at this point. If he wants to further challenge himself, have at it. But he doesn’t owe a thing to US Soccer, and has no obligation to go to Europe to better his game in service to the MNT.
Landon’s focus has been off for most the season.
He’s a game away from winning the supporter’s shield and a cpl weeks away from the beginning of the playoffs. Playing in England should be the last thing on his mind.
After his on-field performance since the WC, I doubt Everton would even want him back.
Going over to Everton is a bloody waste of time.
Landon, Just take your off-season and play some FIFA 11 or whatever you do for fun.
I guess if playing soccer is what you do in your spare time, go waste your time overseas for a team going nowhere. I just don’t see the point, just don’t get injured for next season.
Money would be the only point. I just don’t see the point.
but he isn’t the captain. Bocanegra is.
ding ding ding!!!! we have a winner.
(see other examples: lamar odom, reggie bush, etc.)
That’s a two way street. You can try to tell me that James Milner is better than Donovan, and I’ll laugh in your face every time. And yet Milner sold for £24 million (just under 40 million Euro). Altidore sold for 10. So how would the best player in the history of America run into a problem being sold for a bit over $10 million?
100% incorrect. He is not so quick to leave because he is being held prisoner by his contract. Unless you think he’s a liar.
He has said a gazillion (estimate) times that he wants to bolt to Europe, but he was too stupid to realize his MLS contract was offered purely to keep him here by force. Again, unless you think he’s a liar blowing smoke.
What Donovan should do is go back in time and not let MLS handcuff him to the league like a complete moron, which I called from day one.
At this point I couldn’t care less what he does, as long as our main man is fit going into the summer of 2014. He gave away any hope of a meaningful career in Europe when he allowed himself to be convinced his contract was insurance, when what it really is is a dead weight making him a prisoner in an inferior league during his physical prime.
“Go enjoy yourself.” I think that’s exactly what he’s doing in LA, and why he’s not so quick to leave.
Even if you were right, it’s still not just about that. Imagine the marketing opportunities for a team trying to break into the American market, much like Chicharito and Park Ji Sung.
Agreed Sven. Ives was setting that as the price this summer and I just don’t think Everton can raise that much cash. And the other clubs aren’t as good a fit, in my mind, because he would not be guaranteed a starting slot.
Well wouldn’t they spend big money to alleviate the risk of another team getting there first? Completely ignorant of the way contracts work over in Europe, so this is an honest question.
US Soccer benefits from Donovan playing in Europe. Donovan the player benefits from playing in Europe. He needs to move there permanently. I know he is a Cali boy and loves his home; but professionally, playing in Europe is the best move for him. Also, he will have around 5-6 weeks off. That is enough rest for him. Go Donovan, and don’t look back.
Donovan, you are good enough to play in the best European leagues. Go enjoy yourself.
It seems to be what works best for him. Its an ideal situation really. Definitely rare in the world of pro soccer but after his last stint he’s got nothing left to prove. Hope it works out for him again.
They don’t rest-they just get injured after playing non-stop for several years and fall into a deep slump. Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres, etc.
Straight up trade: Landon Donovan for Wayne Rooney.
Here is to hoping LA lose in the first round of the playoffs, and he has all of Novemeber and December to rest! Sorry LA fans, thinking bigger picture here 😛
hogwash
rooney isn’t going to go for enough to make everton’s sell on fee high enough to buy donovan. Because of rooney’s contract no ones going to spend big big money to bring him in when they can sign him for free in a little over a year
When he’s no longer the captian? 😉
Truth. He’s in a tough spot because he’s clearly quality enough to contribute to good teams in Europe but his value to MLS shoots up the cost to buy him. Since he’s 28, it makes it hard for European teams to justify paying.
I’d just a soon he not lay an egg in England, which is what I’m afraid he’ll do if doesn’t have an actual “off season” for once
Players go through slumps. You really would be ok with unloading the best player (when on form) in MLS and arguably the best player the US has ever produced?
agree. If anything to quiet all the haters that say he got turned out at the end of his loan spell and the epl figured him out and what not.
donovan needs a break from soccer, he’s going ot pull a beckham soon and have a catastrophic injury if he doesnt cool it
If MLS is asking more than 10 Mil for Donovan then he is not going anywhere. You can buy much better players with a proven European record for that kind of money.
doooooo it.
He just looks so good in that uni.
anyone think since he got back together with his lady he’s been on the downward of his game?
I used to care a lot about this, but I feel like Donovan proved himself to the world enough last year through the loan spell and the World Cup. Whatever he wants to do, but MLS is getting more exciting and I would like MLS start keeping its talent.
agreed. Timmy is already there. but a goalie is limited. Land-O will be the spark that will shoot Everton up the table. and ur right, everyone will be watching, and they will know an American saved Everton.
*End*
Landon leaving MLS and signing with a European club is in the best interests of American soccer. If he repeats the loan and returns to LA afterwards, I’ll be thoroughly disappointed and convinced that soccer will never truly grow in the USA. It will only truly capture American audiences when our best players are playing for the top clubs in the world. Granted Everton is not, but if Donovan were to sign with them, it would be a start at least.
Word. missed ya ThaDeuce! u always say the best comments i want to have thought of.
playing 10 months out of the year doesnt do anything worse then playing 7 months. it doesnt hurt your body just by playing more. athletes can play 2, 3 times a week and it wont by default wear them down. why do people misconstrue this? what do u want him to do for 3 months, hibernate under the ferris wheel on santa monica peir while wearing a scarf in 65 degree L.A. winter weather?
a chance of injury is only directly proportional to how many times Land-O has play against someone named De Jong.
The best don’t rest.
I personally hope it’s permanent, nothing against LA, they’re a great team, but, Donovan deserves to give it a full go in the EPL. LA could easily get a replacement DP for his spot. LA is Landon’s home, but, the man deserves a new level of competition IMO.
Don’t want to see it happen unless he gets to stay there permanently. He’s not as old as Beckham, but there’s a lesson to be learned regarding the consequences of playing soccer 10 months a year.
Ives, has anyone brought up the possibility of Everton buying him outright? I know MLS would demand a lot of money but I believe Everton might be coming into a lot of extra cash soon because of a sell-on clause in Rooney’s contract. If he gets sold by ManU for a good amount, Everton could suddenly find themselves with the money to meet MLS’ demands for Donovan.
As long as Ronaldinho comes, I don’t mind…What does the Galaxy do with all this loan money???
Uhm, it could be to the non-stop playing he has been doing for almost a year… that seems to me far more reasonable conclusion.
he is the face of US Football..waht do you expect
Not important, but seriously, when is the English media going to stop calling him the USA captain?
Dont let the door hit you on the way out, Im a Galaxy fan, and I see a difference in Landon lately, no desire at all, lack of agressivness, his mind is definetely not with the galaxy. I really think he can care less or maybe he feels wronged by the league because they did not sell him, last transfer window. He has shown a lack of class lately but no one will talk about cause of who he is and what he means to our league and country. He just got a raise, but his play is just took a dump.
This is close to a perfect situation for Landon. He’ll never leave LA because he wants to promote soccer in the USA. Which is understandable, so repeating his loan spell w/ everton is as good of an option as he can get in his situation. Though he won’t likely get the rest that he would like due to the gold cup taking the world cup’s place this summer
Go Go Donovan Go!
I’d like to see Donovan move for a couple of years to Everton. But a 3-month loan wouldn’t be bad either.
I had heard from a mutual friend a few months back that this is indeed the situation that Landon wants to repeat. Loan to Everton and then back to LA. LA is his home, he won’t leave permanently.