Yanks Abroad
American Defender Ream Nearing Transfer to QPR
The St. Louis native and former New York Red Bull has been a mainstay for Bolton Wanderers but appears London-bound to play for a team with legitmate Premiership ambitions.
TIM REAM LOOKS TO BE THE next American on the move in this summer transfer window as the United States national team defender is on the verge of completing a deal to fellow Championship-based club Queens Park Rangers.
Sources told American Soccer Now that Bolton Wanders agreed to a transfer price with Queens Park Rangers that would send Ream to the London-based club. On Thursday, Ream is expected to be in London to negotiate personal terms with QPR.
Ream, 27, joined Bolton in 2012 after two seasons with the New York Red Bulls, which drafted him out of Saint Louis University in 2010 and in his first season the Midlands side was eventually relegated from the Premier League. In the Championship, however, the St. Louis native has excelled, winning the team's player of the year award each of the past two seasons.
Bolton, however, has been hit hard by debt and poor finances which have hurt its ability to contend for promotion. While the rest of the club has struggled, Ream has earned rave reviews for his play where he has featured at both left back, central defense, and even central midfield.
At QPR, Ream will play for a club that has high ambitions to return quickly to the Premier League. Club management has been looking to bring in a defender to the starting lineup at Loftus Road and now it will have a player with extensive Championship experience.
In its effort to acquire Ream, QPR outbid fellow London-based club Fulham which was relegated out of the Premier League in 2015 but struggled in its first season in the Championship where it managed to stay just above the drop zone.
Sources tell ASN that it is possible that Fulham make a desperation bid at the last minute to pull the American away from QPR but the source also indicated it is unlikely such a maneuver would be successful.
This summer Ream played for the United States in its disappointing Gold Cup run, starting in the third-place game against Panama.
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.
This summer Ream played for the United States in its disappointing Gold Cup run, starting in the third-place game against Panama.
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.
