Euro Preseason notebook
Steffen rumors heat up, Mix & Gall find new clubs, injured strikers, & more
Zack Steffen is reportedly getting interest from England but how will he qualify for a work permit? Elsewhere Diskerud and Gall are on the move while Wood and Johannsson are injured. Brian Sciaretta is here with the latest
THE PRESEASON in Europe rolls on and Americans are on trial in Europe and some have even found new clubs. Here are the top stories from the past few days in preseason from Europe.
There is a lot of talk right now about Columbus Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen and a move to Bristol City. The news was first reported by MLS Soccer and the price was listed at $4 million.
That is all well and good but there is not nearly enough talk about how Steffen would qualify for a UK work permit. He is not a dual citizen with an EU country and while he is likely the first choice keeper for the United States national team right now, his national team involvement is limited. He has three caps and none have been in a competitive match.
Steffen would not qualify automatically for a EU work permit so his only avenue right now would be through an appeal. The success of players obtaining a permit through appear varies. Some years the appeal board is more lenient but other times it is a lot harder.
Steffen’s resume right now is very thin and obtaining a work permit to play for Bristol seems like a massive uphill climb at the moment.
Mix Diskerud’s career continues to amaze and it all started in 2009 when he made the decision to play for the United States as opposed to his native Norway. Then he moved to New York City followed by a weird transfer to Manchester City with an immediate loan to IFK Goteborg.
Now he’s on his way to South Korea to play for top flight Ulsan Hyundai on loan.
Former U.S. U-20 and Columbus Crew winger Romain Gall has had a great start to the Allsvenskan season in 2018 with GIF Sundsvall. Across all competitions, he has played in 16 games with nine goals and five assists.
Now Gall is on the move within Sweden to play for Malmo. After winning the title in 2017, things have not been as great for Malmo in 2018 which is in seventh place in the league. The club is in the Champions League qualifying stages and will play Romanian champions CFR Cluj next week.
Last year was tough for German-American Jerome Kiesewetter, 25, who played just 177 minutes all season for Fortuna Dusseldorf and was released after the season.
Now he is on trial at VVV Venlo, which was recently promoted to the Eredivisie, and played the first half of a friendly on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, Lynden Gooch got the start for League One side Sunderland in a friendly against Grimsby Town and scored a goal.
It is a big year for Gooch who has stayed with the club through two consecutive relegations. Now in the third tier, can he be an impact player in a fight for promotion?
Werder Bremen’s American forward Aron Johannsson is injured again and it comes at a tough point as he is trying to rebuild his career in preseason. This time it is his ankles which are hurting him.
No one questions his talent but I am sure American fans are wondering what could have been had he been able to stay healthy for most of the past four years.
Bobby Wood was replaced after just 11 minutes in a friendly against FSV Wacker Nordhausen.
According to this report, it was his lower back that forced him out and that Hannover did not want to take any chances.
Steffen reported interest from Bristol City
There is a lot of talk right now about Columbus Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen and a move to Bristol City. The news was first reported by MLS Soccer and the price was listed at $4 million.
That is all well and good but there is not nearly enough talk about how Steffen would qualify for a UK work permit. He is not a dual citizen with an EU country and while he is likely the first choice keeper for the United States national team right now, his national team involvement is limited. He has three caps and none have been in a competitive match.
Steffen would not qualify automatically for a EU work permit so his only avenue right now would be through an appeal. The success of players obtaining a permit through appear varies. Some years the appeal board is more lenient but other times it is a lot harder.
Steffen’s resume right now is very thin and obtaining a work permit to play for Bristol seems like a massive uphill climb at the moment.
Diskerud to South Korea
Mix Diskerud’s career continues to amaze and it all started in 2009 when he made the decision to play for the United States as opposed to his native Norway. Then he moved to New York City followed by a weird transfer to Manchester City with an immediate loan to IFK Goteborg.
Now he’s on his way to South Korea to play for top flight Ulsan Hyundai on loan.
OFFICIAL | Ulsan Hyundai have confirmed a signing of American midfielder Mix Diskerud on loan from Manchester City. #kleague pic.twitter.com/4KcZVatayC
— Korea Football News (@KORFootballNews) July 17, 2018
Gall seals Malmo move
Former U.S. U-20 and Columbus Crew winger Romain Gall has had a great start to the Allsvenskan season in 2018 with GIF Sundsvall. Across all competitions, he has played in 16 games with nine goals and five assists.
Now Gall is on the move within Sweden to play for Malmo. After winning the title in 2017, things have not been as great for Malmo in 2018 which is in seventh place in the league. The club is in the Champions League qualifying stages and will play Romanian champions CFR Cluj next week.
Kiesewetter on trial with VVV
Last year was tough for German-American Jerome Kiesewetter, 25, who played just 177 minutes all season for Fortuna Dusseldorf and was released after the season.
Now he is on trial at VVV Venlo, which was recently promoted to the Eredivisie, and played the first half of a friendly on Wednesday.
Oefenduel tegen Wittenhorst levert krappe 0-1 zege op. Proefspeler Kiesewetter speelt één helft mee. Zaterdag staat het volgende oefenduel op de rol. #witvvv https://t.co/lLzD1aRSbv pic.twitter.com/GVVEIFYCDK
— VVV-Venlo (@VVVVenlo) July 18, 2018
Gooch scores for Sunderland
Earlier this week, Lynden Gooch got the start for League One side Sunderland in a friendly against Grimsby Town and scored a goal.
The McGeouch flick that started off the move to @lyndengooch46's goal on Tuesday night... ????
— Sunderland AFC ????? (@SunderlandAFC) July 19, 2018
Highlights available ???????? https://t.co/wjdYUKlKR0#SAFC #HawayTheLads pic.twitter.com/zptYIXfNB7
It is a big year for Gooch who has stayed with the club through two consecutive relegations. Now in the third tier, can he be an impact player in a fight for promotion?
Johannsson injured again
Werder Bremen’s American forward Aron Johannsson is injured again and it comes at a tough point as he is trying to rebuild his career in preseason. This time it is his ankles which are hurting him.
No one questions his talent but I am sure American fans are wondering what could have been had he been able to stay healthy for most of the past four years.
???? @aronjo20 (ankle problems) and Jannes #Vollert (knock to the thigh) will leave the training camp earlier than planned to return to Bremen.#Zillerdeich2018 #werder pic.twitter.com/t8Em4GP5aQ
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) July 18, 2018
Wood injured in friendly
Bobby Wood was replaced after just 11 minutes in a friendly against FSV Wacker Nordhausen.
According to this report, it was his lower back that forced him out and that Hannover did not want to take any chances.
