By CAITLIN MURRAY
In a bid to stay fit ahead of next year’s World Cup, New York Red Bulls midfielder and Aussie Tim Cahill is reportedly eying a move back overseas.
Cahill will decide in the next few weeks whether he will seek a loan to play in his homeland’s A-League or even in the English Premier League, according to some rumors.
“It’s something that probably won’t come up until mid-December, Cahill told Australian media on Saturday. “It all depends if I want to and if it works for my body – the plan has to be for the World Cup, not really for me personally.”
The Socceroos star had played eight years for Everton in Premier League before joining the Red Bulls in 2012, but told reporters he is happy playing in MLS full time.
“For me personally, playing in the MLS suits me and the international team better,” Cahill said.
Cahill finished his second MLS season earlier this month with 11 goals and five assists. He will play for Australia on Tuesday against Costa Rica in an international friendly at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The Socceroos qualified for the World Cup last June with a 1-0 victory against Iraq in AFC qualifying.
Here’s a look at some other stories around MLS:
DE ROSARIO OPEN TO SIGNING OVERSEAS IF MLS CLUBS AREN’T INTERESTED
Canadian National Team forward Dwayne De Rosario is looking to stay in MLS after being declined by D.C. United last month – but he’s not ruling out a move overseas.
“I’ve had an unbelievable experience playing in that league and a great time there, and if it’s time to move on from there, so be it,” De Rosario told MLSsoccer.com on Saturday. “If not, then I definitely look forward to another year, two, three in Major League Soccer.”
De Rosario is the all-time leading scoring for Canada’s men’s squad and will represent the national team Tuesday for an away friendly match against Slovenia.
DESERT DIAMOND CUP IN ARIZONA EXPANDS WITH MORE MLS TEAMS
Ten MLS teams will return to Tucson, Ariz. for spring training in February, with the format for the 2014 Desert Diamond Cup changing a bit.
In a revised format, the Diamond Cup will expand from eight to 12 matches with six teams vying for the title: Chivas USA, the Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids, the New England Revolution and FC Tucson.
The 15-match training schedule will run from Feb. 1 to March 1 and feature a clash between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders, the Arizona Daily Star reported Saturday.
FC Tucson is also in negotiations with Mexican first division teams to join the training schedule.
NEW D.C. UNITED STADIUM PROJECT ALREADY BEHIND SCHEDULE
It appears the new D.C. United stadium project is already missing deadlines.
District of Columbia officials and a developer for the project had set a Nov. 15 deadline for a key piece of land to be appraised and a trade to be negotiated. But Nov. 15 came and went with no deal.
According to a report by Washington City Paper, the appraisals are done, but agreement negotiations continue and nothing is ready to submit to D.C.’s Council.
MLS PLAYERS DELAGARZA AND BROWN REPORT FOR NATIONAL TEAM DUTIES
American-born A.J. DeLeGarza made his debut for Guam on Saturday in a 1-1 draw to Laos. The Los Angeles Galaxy defender, whose father is Mexican-Guamanian, will represent Guam again next week against Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Colorado Rapids forward Deshorn Brown tallied his third international cap on Friday for Jamaica in 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Cahill returning to Australia or England for a winter-loan? Do you see De Rosario staying in MLS? Do you like the growth of the Desert Diamond Cup?
Share your thoughts below.