for Zelalem, it's obvious that Arsenal doesn't really rate him much, just go by the quality of the loans. Dutch 2nd division and Scottish 2nd division. I mean really? 1st division loan somewhere or at least a respectable 2nd division like the Championship for example would be more telling.
Ryan Laursen, RB who can also play LB, born here so probably has a passport. Danish YNTs, would have to switch? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Laursen https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018...-eyeing-danish-american-defender-ryan-laursen
I put this in Yanks Abroad, but it appears appropriate here too: Niko HamalainenVerified account @Niko_Hamalainen blessed to be called up to Finland’s first team #godstiming
https://www.transfermarkt.com/will-pulisic/profil/spieler/315780 Not sure if he is any good, but Will Pulisic is a Dortmund youth team GK who played US U17 but like his brother would probably be eligible for both Croatia and USA.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/ben-lederman/profil/spieler/366929 Ben Lederman, M, Gent II. Also has Polish passport. Was once in the Barca system.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/konrad-de-la-fuente/profil/spieler/466809 Konrad de la Fuente, M/F, Barcelona U19. Also could play for Haiti and Spain but has played for USYNT.
Here's an under-the-radar name. 19-year-old DM born in Missouri who plays for BIH youth teams and has now signed a 5-year deal with Greek giants AEK Athens. I'd put the odds of Sabanadzovic playing for the US clearly lower than the likes of Siebatcheu and Balogun as he has a very realistic/likely path with Bosnia. Στην πρωταθλήτρια Ελλάδας o διεθνής Βόσνιος μέσος, Ανέλ Σαμπανάτζοβιτς, από την FK Željezničar Sarajevo με συμβόλαιο μέχρι τον Δεκέμβριο του 2023!#aekfc #aekfctransfers #wearethechampions #aekfamily #wearebackhttps://t.co/uXpCTAcIaA pic.twitter.com/COan5ol9LE— AEK F.C. (@AEK_FC_OFFICIAL) January 11, 2019
17-year-old Charlie Kelman scored in his League One debut today for Southend United. Highly prolific striker at youth level. Before today, he's already been drawing interest from a bevy of Premier League and Championship clubs. One callup with the US U18s but it's quite possible England have some interest in him. He has an American father and spent six years growing up in Texas. Without a doubt he should be near the top of the list of selections for the 2021 U20 cycle for the US, and arguably could be a dark horse selection for this current cycle (not sure Akinola is better than him).
Not real impressed with the current crop of DMs, who instead seem like a bunch of two way mush. There is no one in the Jones/Mastro mold. Snobs talk that down but sometimes you need players who do the dirty work. Under Sarachan we didn't really make fighting for dual nationals a point of emphasis. What does it hurt to cap him, perhaps even "early," to tie him here? He'd have to be a willing participant, and maybe based on his background Bosnia has inside track, but why not try.....
What’s the most recent skinny on sebatechau wrt the USMNT? I’m aware of his performance and that he hasn’t been called to france’s U21 team recently. Any update? Thanks.
Last we heard was that he received a USMNT callup from Sarachan in June 2018 but declined it, according to an article from The Athletic. Siebatcheu specifically cited his ongoing transfer from Reims to Rennes as a reason for turning it down. But it was obviously also because he prefers France, and he would have had to suit up against France had he accepted. It's clear France is his first choice, but he also displays a US flag in his Instagram bio, so he can't have closed the door on the US. My hunch is that soon enough his international choices will be the US, Cameroon, or nothing. He's a good player, just in all likelihood not good enough for France U21 let alone the senior team.
The major selling point we'd have over Bosnia is that our odds of qualifying for the 2022 WC are clearly higher. Bosnia are not a bad team but it's just incredibly tough to qualify out of UEFA. Though I'm afraid Sabanadzovic is good enough that despite his young age he'll likely be part of their attempt to qualify.
Remember when we lost Jonathan Gonzalez' services and USS put out a bogus report Tillman was switching our direction out of damage control? He's neither intending to play for the US, still, nor produced at a respectable level yet to be considered a prize. That was a sleazy move. The lesson to USS is: be more competent and you'd be compelled to lie less when you fail. But respect for customers at the time is always nice. No wonder they've alienated so many fans. A dual national a-wing who's actually shown something at a respectable level so would be a prize to acquire and actually does seemingly want to play for the U.S. is Handwalla Bwana. But the problem there is citizenship, even though he was a refugee and has been in the States since he was 12. Mum is the word on progress. Anybody hear anything? I think he'll break out this year. The defensive awareness and effort is even there now, and he'd be one of our more creative a-wings in the pool.
T.Tillman is not a bad player but overrated. Seems like whole he plays at Bayern and attracted attention from Barcelona Academy over-hyped him too much. Yeah in Jan 2018 he was said that he will switch and play for USA in March 2018, almost a full year later and still nothing. speaking of German-Americans, really seems like it will take awhile before we really see new players that are like Brooks, Johnson, Chandler and Jones. Majority of German-American players aren't even in 1BL clubs/Academies too. It's like last German-American who established himself in 1BL is Toljan than last who played some 1BL is Green. (looking at age groups). The remaining 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, have made no progress to getting to 1BL, still far away. And current U19s is focused on 00-01. If one looks at 00-01, pretty much same they will end up having to take the long route to getting to the top flight, if ever. the guys who are currently close to 1BL clubs are pretty much: 97-Klinsmann, 98-Friede, 99-T.Tillman and 00-Malone, that's it. Very short list and from that list already question marks on the 1st 3 guys whether they will be forced to take longer route too.
In a very odd twist Americans who've lived a lot or all of their lives in the US are doing much better in the Bundesliga than dual Ami's that have grown up in Germany.