By RYAN TOLMICH
Despite the long-standing rumors, it appears U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Mix Diskerud’s move stateside has hit a snag.
After agreeing to a handshake deal with the Columbus Crew, talks between Diskerud’s father/agent Paal and club have reportedly broken down due to a last second demand for higher pay. The Crew currently sit atop the MLS Allocation Order.
The 23-year-old midfielder, who was a member of the 2014 U.S. World Cup squad, currently plays for Norwegian side Rosenborg, although his contract is set to expire at the end of the year.
Here are some more news and notes from around MLS:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR LATEST EUROPEAN CLUB IN FOR YEDLIN
The list of European clubs in pursuit of DeAndre Yedlin just keeps longer and longer.
Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are the latest big-name side entering the Yedlin race, joining fellow powerhouses Roma and Liverpool on the list of Yedlin’s summer suitors.
After a standout 2014 World Cup, Spurs are reported to be the current favorites to land the 21-year-old right back, with the London club set to loan the U.S. Men’s National Team defender back to the Seattle Sounders for the rest of the MLS season.
DJALO TO MISS ONE TO FOUR WEEKS WITH QUAD STRAIN
Just four days after scoring the winner against the Seattle Sounders, Yannick Djalo is set to miss some time.
The San Jose Earthquakes midfielder, who has scored three goals in 13 appearances, has been ruled out for this weekend’s clash with the LA Galaxy after being diagnosed with a quad strain that is expected to sideline him for 1-4 weeks.
“He feels he’s improve a lot in the past couple days,” Quakes coach Mark Watson said of Djalo. “We’re still working off that time frame, kind of monitoring it day to day.”
The Quakes are hoping to feature newly signed DP Matias Perez Garcia in Djalo’s stead, with the club hoping to have completed the Argentine’s paperwork in time for a potential debut this weekend.
ORLANDO CITY BRINGS IN TWO FROM BENFICA
Orlando City’s partnership with Portuguese powers Benfica is paying dividends before the club even joins the ranks of MLS.
The club have reportedly added a pair of Benfica youngsters, 19-year-old Rafael Ramos and 18 year-old Estrela, with the duo set to join the team of the USL season before making the move with the club to MLS in 2015. Both players have signed multi-year deals with the club.
The duo, who have previously featured for Benfica’s U-19 side, join midfielders Kaka, Kevin Molino, Darwin Ceren and Yordany Alvarez and defenders Tyler Turner and Tommy Redding on the club’s MLS roster.
ORLANDO TO HOST ALL-STAR GAME WITHIN FIVE YEARS
With the 2014 MLS All-Star Game festivities in full swing in Portland, Orlando City is already looking forward to hosting the event themselves.
The MLS newcomers, who are sit to begin MLS play in 2015, have reached an agreement with MLS to host an All-Star Game in the next five years, with the two sides aiming for 2017 or 2018.
“It’s another example of how we can utilize all our resources that we have in Central Florida, as the world’s most visited city, to bring new people to the market and expose Orlando to more and more markets and more and more opportunities,” Orlando City chief operating officer Brett Lashbrook said. “Not just domestically and to Canada, but also internationally.”
The agreement comes as part of Orlando City’s agreement with the local funding Board of Commissioners with regards to the club’s plans for a downtown stadium.
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How do you feel about Diskerud’s move to Columbus falling apart? Would you like to see Yedlin at Roma? Would you make a trip to an All-Star Game in Orlando?
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