Europe in their futures

If I would have been asked to look at which players in the MLS could potentially have bright futures in Europe before the summer transfer window closed, I would have without hesitation looked to Jozy Altidore and Maurice Edu.

For still being a teenager, Altidore is an imposing presence up front. His combination of size and speed could render him lethal in a few years. He just needs to get some experience first. He could end up being a solid front-man for Villareal. I still believe his physical presence up top may be better suited in the EPL one day compared to La Liga where strikers rely more on pace and finesse.

Edu may not look like the biggest guy on the field, but he’s a tenacious defender in the midfield. His time at Maryland was well spent gaining valuable experience at the collegiate level and quickly making a smooth transition into the MLS. After two years, he’s made his jump to Scotland to join fellow American, DeMarcus Beasley, with Rangers. Edu is a name American soccer fans will be hearing for years to come.

As for players still in the MLS that could potentially be making it in Europe in the near future, the two names that come to mind are a pair of 23-year-olds. I have left Landon Donovan out of this conversation since he has already spent time in Europe on two occasions and was unable to capitalize on the opportunities. Still, I expect to see him back in Europe very soon.

The first MLS player with the potential would be Kenny Cooper of FC Dallas. He’s currently second in the league in scoring with 15 goals in 26 games. At 6’3” 207-pounds, Cooper is a beast roaming around opposing penalty boxes.

After high school, Cooper signed with Manchester United, but never could crack the first-team, spending his days stuck with the reserves. After being loaned out, United quickly terminated the deal due to him not receiving playing time. He soon found himself headed back to Dallas after the English club released him because he wasn’t progressing as they would have liked. In his almost three seasons now with FCD, he’s been a dominant force. During the summer, he was linked with Cardiff City of England and Rosenborg of Norway, but Dallas rejected both offers. Still, it appears as though his time in the MLS is coming to as close. He should be making a move to Europe during the January transfer period.

The other is Sacha Kljestan. He easily has the most potential between the two. Now in his third season with Chivas USA, Kljestan has the pace and ability to play overseas, but what separates him from many is his knowledge of the game and ability to read on the fly. Having the instincts to see what’s coming has made him a valuable commodity. It’s allowed him to be versatile, playing both central midfield and out wide on the wing for the U.S. team in the Beijing Olympics.

At only 23, the scary thing is that he still has the potential to further his awareness. As with Cooper, I expect to see him cross the pond in January. His technique and pace would work well in Spain, but I would almost rather see him take the route of DeMarcus Beasley and Michael Bradley and head to the Dutch league for couple years. That league has a way of developing young talent like few other leagues can claim to do. He’s just yet another piece to the young talented crop of American players who have the future of U.S. soccer looking bright.