Jonathan Lewis is reportedly the latest American player garnering interest from Europe.
The Colorado Rapids winger is linked with several EFL Championship clubs, ESPN reported Monday. Barnsley’s bid of roughly just over $523,000 for Lewis’ services was rejected, according to the report.
Lewis currently holds a UK passport which would eliminate any potential work permit issues. He began his career with English side Bradford City, but never made his competitive debut for the club.
He played one season at the University of Akron in 2016, scoring two goals in 22 appearances. Lewis was drafted by NYCFC in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and eventually totaled 31 appearances for the Eastern Conference club, which also included a loan spell with Louisville City in the USL.
Lewis was traded in 2019 to Colorado, where he’s scored eight goals in 21 combined league appearances. He scored two goals at the MLS is Back Tournament for the Rapids, but it wasn’t enough to see the club avoid elimination in the group stage.
The 23-year-old has earned six caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team since making his debut in Jan. 2019.
Barnsley finished in 21st place in the Championship last season, fighting off relegation due to Wigan Athletic’s 12-point deduction. The club only won 12 matches out of 46 in league play and will be eager for a more comfortable campaign in 2020-21′.
Transfermkt lists Lewis at 880,000. This seems like a good move for him. I’d think Barnsley would use him as a super sub like Colorado, he could be brought on late to use his speed to try to steal some points.
Is Colorado more or less likely to win MLS giving up a starter for $523k?
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He doesn’t start and they’re not winning a Championship with or without him. He averaged 14.6 minutes played per match, but he does score every 24.3 minutes he plays.
He has 2 assists in 6 caps, pure speed, and while disused in club has 11G 9A mostly as a sub in about 60 pro appearances. He is a raw mess but a productive raw mess. If people weren’t so busy being snobby they would find a way to make use of such a player. To me goals or assists per 90 is a telling stat — particularly of players not getting enough playing time. He gets an assist every 70 international minutes, goal or assist every 100 club minutes. [Kind of like Horvath won all his club games and had 1 goal allowed in 3 appearances. Or Weah with a goal and assist in 514′ of caps, and 4 goals and an assist in about 650′ of first division league ball. That’s not your fault you’re sitting.] Supersub is about right. Or we can send Roldan out there who has no goals or assists for the NT ever in 19 caps. Sometimes you want raw and “makes things happen.”
He started a decent amount for Colorado last year, but they brought in Benezet who was starting in League 1 in 2019 and recently brought in Galvan a 19 year old Argentine, Shinyashiki who was rookie of the year so there’s not much room for Lewis as if a Summer move was always in the works. Barnsley doesn’t look to have much for left wingers so he might actually play more there. They seem to play with two strikers and a #10 so that might not be good.
Looking at their other signings not sure they could afford much more than that offer.