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Sounders prospect Sam Rogers impresses on trial with Standard Liege, but no deal imminent

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Former U.S. Under-20 national team defender Sam Rogers recently spent three weeks on a trial with Belgian powerhouse Standard Liege, but the Seattle Sounders academy product won’t be joining the wave of young Americans moving to Europe just yet.

Rogers’ trial with Liege failed to generate a transfer offer after initial discussions between the clubs set a price that the Belgian club ultimately found too high, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told SBI.

The 20-year-old central defender is currently under contract with the Sounders’ USL affiliate, Sounders 2, with a deal that runs through the 2020 season. Seattle’s valuation of Rogers ultimately dissuaded Standard Liege from negotiating for a transfer despite the club’s interest in signing Rogers.

A member of the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team squad that won the Concacaf Championship last November, Rogers missed out on a chance to play in the Under-20 World Cup due to an injury, but remains a highly-regarded prospect in the U.S. youth national team setup. Most recently, Rogers took part in a U.S. Under-23 national team camp with head coach Jason Kreis back in June.

Rogers is part of a strong generation of Sounders academy products coming through the ranks, with Seattle having signed midfielder Daniel Leyva and goalkeeper Trey Muse to homegrown player deals. The Sounders have yet to make Rogers a formal offer for an MLS homegrown contract, but that step appears to be inevitable as the Sounders head towards 2020.

“I think that’s an on-going discussion,” Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey told SBI. “We started the year with 34-year-old Chad Marshall, 30-year-old Kim Kee-Hee and 32-year-old Roman Torres. It’s obvious to anyone that we needed to have younger center backs in our system. That’s still the case. Chad’s obviously retired, Roman’s out of contract at the end of the year. Kim’s out of contract at the end of the year. I would say there’s a lot of opportunity for centerbacks in our system.”

The Sounders did succeed in adding some youth to its central defender pool with the addition of 24-year-old Ecuadorian centerback Xavier Arreaga, but Rogers is considered a prospect with the potential to develop into a high-end starter. A 6-foot-4 defender with the valuable combination of size and sharp passing ability, Rogers is a leading candidate for a homegrown player contract. That is unless he decides to play out his current contract with Sounders 2 and tests the international market in 2021, when he would be 22 and available on a free transfer.

If Rogers were to leave the Sounders organization at the end of his current contract, the Sounders would still be able to secure training compensation from whichever club he ultimately signed with, this after Major League Soccer made the official decision earlier in 2019 to begin pursuing training compensation for players developed in its academies.

Comments

  1. Hernando Peralta dont be made cause I am telling the truth does not make me an ass hole. MLS has blocked several young players going over to Europe Erick Palmer-Brown could have been like Dest but MLS blocked him and other youth from several European deals. Now he playing in Austria and stunned his growth. Palmer -Brown was getting hit up by Juventus! Do research before getting in your little girl feelings. You probably an undercover Mexico fan so stfu.

    Reply
    • MLS is not screwing anyone! An MLS academy raised this player (I don’t know how long he was in their academy for, but let’s assume for a fair period of time) and he chose to sign a professional contract with them. Very few people are lucky enough to get that far.

      Now, you expect Seattle to let him go for free or below the value they ascribed to him …. because that is what you want and what you think I better for the national team … Not to mention that he would be going to a league that is on par with MLS. No one put a gun to his head to sign. If he is unhappy, he can wait till the end of the contract and leave on a free. Same as the case with any professional player anywhere in the world.

      Reply
    • Also Hernando Peralta you the culero. Let me break it down for you idiot. If he was so good why didnt he make the final u20 roster along with Dest, Richards, Mckennzie and Keita. Sounders should have known that price was too high their are other American defenders in his age range that are better than him. Again MLS screwing another youth from leveling up their game going to Europe. But I am the one that does not know what I am talking about? Haha stfu again

      Reply
      • Mysterious, you don’t know what you are talking about. Rogers didn’t make the final U20 roster because he got injured.

      • Big Red you have no idea what you are talking about stay out this convo. You making crap up put an article down saying he was injured and didnt make the final roster because of it and the injury! Exactly you cant you just making up a lie because you want to be right. You didnt even put what injury he had. You all are full of crap and support MLS stunning players growth. Brady Scoot had injuries and recovered and made the final roster and even started most the game and Ochoa started one. Mentiosos! I have never seen your name on this website. You probably an undercover Mexico fan too, here to cause confusion.

    • (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.massivereport.com/platform/amp/2019/6/9/18658571/columbus-crew-sc-aboubacar-keita-united-states-under-20-world-cup-2019) This article talks about how Keita beat out Sands and Rogers for a roster spot. McKenzie and Richards also beat a not injured Rogers out for a spot. Mentions nothing about Rogers being injured.If he was so called injured how was he able to regain form in two three months and impress at a top European team in Belgium. Exactly you guys are such liars and try to gas light me like I am crazy. No you all are crazy and ignorant.

      Reply

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