In Germany, there's not really many static position players outside of GK and CB. There are players like Lewa and Auba who are straight CF's and nothing else. But most players in the Bund (outside GK and CF) can play multiple positions well. Heck, Werder played Gebre-Sellasie, a DF by trade, in largely attacking roles late in the season. Point: We could concievably see both Young and Sargent on the field at the same time at some point, and neither would be out of position.
Why? Haji has been promoted to the 1st team at a larger club at 18. Sargent might be a better prospect than he was at 17. He'll likely go over, adapt and learn the system with the U19's, spend some time training with the 1st team in the summer of '18 as Bund clubs usually do, then come the 18-19 U19 season if he impresses, might get a shot with the 1st team. That would put him on track to break into the 1st team at 18/19. Maybe it's the '19 winter break where he gets his chance, a month prior to his 19th birthday. Bund is the most youth friendly league outside the Ered. Seems a good situation to me. If he's good enough, he'll get his chance.
There is literally zero chance that he's going to move at 18 and automatically play for their first team right away. Learning and playing for the youth squad for a year shouldn't be considered "right away". That is what the guy I replied to was suggesting. I'm not disputing that he'll get a legit chance.
I don't think it's unrealistic for him to join the u19s when he turns 18 and make his senior team debut later the same year. That's what McKennie did
My fantasy matchmaking for a YA actually worked this time. It's low % game. So many clubs to choose from. Werder was sort of an outside the box choice too. I suggested it before the rumors. To some they weren't sexy enough. But I think they'll keep him in his comfort zone, which is important. Klinsmann used his connections at Werder so that would be his case. Sargent will have a fellow American there in Young to ease the transition (McBride acknowledged it's important to have a friend or family member with you, thought his growth was stunted there without it) and they're accommodating toward Americans given their recent history. They won't challenge him too much for spots and make p.t hard to come by like would happen at a bigger club and one which is more skeptical if an American can cut it there. I think he can break into the first team after the end of his first half season there, if everything goes right. He'll be afforded opportunities in preseason 2018 to show he belongs with the big club.
Not to complicate things, but... Quick note: a source I trust tells me there's no agreement between Sargent camp/Werder Bremen yet. Everything still in discussion phase.— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) May 24, 2017 There's overwhelming confidence Sargent lands in Germany, and could be with WB. But no handshakes yet.— Will Parchman (@WillParchman) May 24, 2017
Man this kid just screams Bundesliga to me, a mix of Lewandowski (finishes well from all angles and always a willing runner) and a little bit of Reus (great work rate and excellent in the high press). I think he would be a fantastic fit for Dortmund right now but if Tuchel leaves no idea if he fits the next system.
Good, his salary probably doubled in the last few days. No reason to hurry. Werder isn't the only interested side.
Sargent's profile at US Soccer lists him at 5'11" and 174 lbs. However, I see that page is dated August of 2015. https://www.ussoccer.com/players/2015/08/05/14/24/joshua-sargent#tab-1 Has he grown much/any since then? Anyone know what his current stats are?
http://www.weser-kurier.de/werder_a...moeglichem-sargenttransfer-_arid,1603689.html Translated: Baumann comments on possible Sargent transfers Werder's talents watch Josh Sargent longer. The 17-year-old US striker caused a sensation especially at the U20 World Cup. Frank Baumann explains what consequences this has for Werder. For Josh Sargent it's going very well. Josh Sargent is only 17, but he can still take part in the U20 World Cup in South Korea. In the 3: 3 against Ecuador, he scored two goals, the 1: 0 against Senegal the victor. "We've been watching him for quite some time," says Werder's sportsman Frank Baumann, "Josh is one of the greatest talents in his year in the US." That's what the player currently proves impressively in the US jersey selection. And that has consequences. "He has aroused the interest of many well-known clubs through his achievements," continued Baumann, "so a commitment is rather unrealistic." Rather unrealistic, but perhaps not completely futile. For the US television station "beIN Sports" has reported in his broadcast "The XTRA" that Sargent intends to change to Werder next year, when he is 18. In the Weserstadion the young man was definitely already. In January the talented attacker, accompanied by his father, had co-trained with FC Schalke during a Germany tour and visited the Weserstadion in Bremen. Sargent is from St. Louis and plays for the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. Essentially confirms what Parchman is saying, WB is still certainly an option but there are other, likely bigger clubs also interested.
Can he even have any sort of binding agreement before he turns 18? I figured all of these u-18 agreements were more of the handshake variety. Not that I oppose him going to Bremen, but if he keeps scoring like this, he'd be doing himself a disservice not to listen to other offers that are bound to come in.
I'm not sure. Madrid just signed Vinícius Júnior for €46m and he's 16, playing for Flamengo. Madrid explained in a statement that they will own the rights to the Brazilian from July 2018, when he turns 18, but he will remain at Flamengo until July 2019 unless both sides agree otherwise. So he's agreed to terms with Madrid but they won't have his rights for well over a year. It also suggests no EU passport. So it appears you can sign a contract before you turn 18 which doesn't kick in until you're 18.
If he wanted to renege on a verbal agreement with Werder I'd be fine with it. But I don't think it should be to better deal them for a bigger club, rather someone who is going to offer him a chance to succeed early in a 2nd tier league like the Netherlands. Most players, even who are prospects, are acquired by bigger clubs from smaller clubs, they don't come through the youth system. That's even the case with Dortmund, who acquired Dembele, Isak, Mor, etc. this offseason. He's going over at 18, so he wouldn't want to spend too much time in a youth system anyway. That wouldn't behoove him like a 14 year old.
That listed height and weight looks about right. He really had no problems with his size a few years ago. It was one of his biggest strengths. If anything, he might've lost some weight or turned fat into muscle. He looks a lot more athletic now than he did about a year ago.
The kid really is a player. Great movement, the ability to strike the ball with both feet equally. Very accurate striker of the ball, and can play a killer pass to put a teammate through on goal. He has all the tools, and I'm looking forward to watching him grow.
Would not be at all surprised if Josh ends up in Spain at one of the big 3 when he turns 18. Now, whether or not that would be his best move, I can't say. Tough to break into the first team at those clubs. But I think there's interest there. Also will be EPL interest, but I'd absolutely want him to steer clear of that. I still would like to see him in Germany, and ultimately I think he will end up there. I think Schalke or BVB is most likely. But as I said, Spain would not surprise me. He has the game to play there. Not exactly any groundbreaking info there, I know. I'm from the same home town as Josh, and people are talking about big, big clubs and him in the same sentences. At this point, I don't think we have an idea about his ceiling as a prospect. With the things he's doing against good teams at the u-20 level, he is certainly still on an upward trajectory.
If Bremen thinks that signing Sargent is unrealistic as "bigger clubs" are interested, I don't think that puts him in Holland...........................
I said that was my hope, not what I think will happen. Also fwiw, I think there's a bit of a misconception as to Bremen's comments. I don't think they're saying that they don't think they can sign him at all now. They meant that now that other clubs are very interested as well, expecting Josh to commit to a handshake agreement almost a year before he can sign is unrealistic. He's going to explore all his options.
I wouldn't mind BVB. Willing to play youth, would have a yank friend there and they for whatever the reason don't carry much depth at striker. And unlike Werder, BVB with UCL/Bund/Pokal have 50+ matches per year. Lots of squad rotation.