He wouldn't get much in MLS and he has more connection with England and Ireland. He's also still young, and he even represented Ireland at some point. His mother's family is based in Dublin. I think it'd be a natural move if only League One bottom feeders are after him.
His brother works for San Jose Earthquakes in a corporate role and I believe he had the chance to sign for them a couple of years ago, he’s a former US international and still young, there would definitely be takers in the MLS.
At 26 he has a much better chance to be noticed if he remains in Europe and has a good spell, though. Coming to MLS as not even a DP and on a regular (=low) salary is curtains, that's where he's going to stay. You don't see 26+ guys on a regular pay moving from MLS to Europe.
Christian Ramirez just did. Loads of foreign players leave the league too. Gooch is homegrown in England. He will have teams interested in him there so long as he can run.
MLS definitely an option. Could increase pay materially. Miami/LA or Newcastle….uh, let me think about that for a minute…
Starts: 🏴 Defoe starts🇺🇸 Gooch returnsTonight's #SUNBUR team news... 📝👇— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 22, 2022
75' On comes Dan Neil. [0-1]#SAFC | #SUNBUR pic.twitter.com/1QMJpBSFUc— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 22, 2022
He's only 39. League One is known for having players in their mid-40s. I don't think Defoe even ranks in the Top 30 oldest. Just checked Transfermarkt: he's the 33rd oldest active player in the EFL League One: https://www.transfermarkt.com/league-one/juengsteaelteste/pokalwettbewerb/GB3
age (youth) definitely helps in terms of MLS to europe moves....but I think a bigger reason that mid career movers back to MLS dont return to europe is that so few of them have made a dent lately in the league....andrew wooten, for one, was lighting up 2 bundesliga and couldnt buy a goal in MLS...but he did latch on back in Austria, at least.....Gyau didnt do much in MLs (alas, injuries have slowed him down) but he recently signed in Sweden.... Gooch should think about leaving Sunderland if he has any ambitions of more in his careeer ...hes just so invisible in EFL. I think he could be a player that shines in MLS...but not sure.
Started: 🚨 Alex Neil's starting XI to take on Wigan Athletic. #SAFC | #WIGSUN— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 26, 2022 Won 3-0.
Nope. That’s oldest players in League One in the last 20 years, the date column is the date they appeared at the age in the age column.
Funny, eh? I turn up here last week and now Gooch has arguably his best performance of the season, he was excellent on the right for us today. Strong, industrious getting up and down, and most importantly had good delivery in the final third.
Yeah, he's 3rd oldest in the league this season behind Akinfenwa and Wes Hoolahan. None of them are in their 40s. "Known for having players in their mid-40s" is ludicrous. Even if you generously extend that range to include 43-year-olds, that gets you one player this century.
🚨 Nathan Broadhead starts at The Valley - Let's go, Lads! 👊 #SAFC | #CHASUN— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) March 5, 2022 Gooch starts today vs. Charlton. Pretty sure no one on the field is 45, but I didn't check everyone.
On the bench: 🏴 Roberts and Clarke start 🏴Alex Neil's starting XI to take on Fleetwood Town. #SAFC | #SUNFLE— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) March 8, 2022
Starts: Our starting XI for today’s game against Crewe Alexandra! 📝#SAFC | #SUNCRE pic.twitter.com/gG1Lo8N7YB— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) March 12, 2022
Starts: 🚨 Alex Neil's starting XI to take on Lincoln City at Sincil Bank. #SAFC | #LINSUN— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) March 19, 2022 0-0 at the half.
On the bench: 🏴 Pritchard returns 🏴 Stewart leads the line 🏴 Batth in defenceAlex Neil's starting XI to face Gillingham. #SAFC | #SUNGIL— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) April 2, 2022 0-0 at the half.
Started: 🚨 Alex Neil's starting XI to face Oxford United. Let's go, Lads! 🔴⚪#SAFC | #OXFSUN— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) April 9, 2022 Won 2-1.
Started: 🚨 Alex Neil's starting XI to face Shrewsbury Town. Let's go, Lads! 🔴⚪️#SAFC | #SUNSHR— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) April 15, 2022 79' Patrick Roberts comes on for our second change. [2-2]#SAFC | #SUNSHR pic.twitter.com/39KAxZUCj6— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) April 15, 2022 Won 3-2 after blowing a 2-0 halftime lead.