The Houston Dynamo won’t stand in Geoff Cameron’s path should a move overseas materialize in the summer transfer window, a prospect that looks more likely by the day for the American center back.
On Monday, the Houston Chronicle reported that a potential transfer to Premier League side Stoke City is supported through all levels of the Dynamo organization, leaving it up to the league to decide whether Cameron will be sold or not.
"The club is in favor of this transfer, and we are in support of it happening," Dynamo president Chris Canetti said. "We will continue to work with the league as they go through the process and make their decision."
Currently, the fee being quoted in the press is $2.7 million, and reports in England have Stoke keen to wrap up the transfer for the 26-year-old, who has started 14 MLS games this year and contributed two assists.
Speculation in England also has Clint Dempsey finally sealing a move away from Fulham, but not to a Champions League participant, a preference the 29-year-old previously indicated as a reason to leave Craven Cottage.
The most recent suitor is reported to be Liverpool, with new manager Brendan Rodgers supposedly hoping to pry Dempsey away from Fulham before the Reds head stateside for their preseason tour in the United States. Rodgers is said to be offering £7.5 million for the Lilly White’s top scorer.
Meanwhile, the big news of the day in MLS on Monday was the dismissal of Portland Timbers coach John Spencer after a little more than a year in charge in the Rose City.
Timbers owner and president Merritt Paulson got choked up discussing the decision to part ways with the organization’s first MLS coach, and didn’t hesitate placing blame on himself as well: "There is egg on my face in making this decision so soon into our MLS existence," Paulson said. "No question about it."
But he refused to discuss the particulars behind the change in direction, saying that general manager Gavin Wilkinson would take over for the remainder of 2012 while the club pares down an initial list of 10 candidates.
The firing was met with mixed reactions in Portland. One columnist felt that “Spencer was a great guy, but flopped tactically with this team,” while the fans also made their opinions known. You can watch the full press conference here.
Another major MLS announcement is expected today in Washington, D.C., with The Washington Post's Steve Goff reporting that the news is related to ownership. Although the United camp was quiet on Monday, club president Kevin Payne implied that positive developments were forthcoming: “Tomorrow’s announcement will be good news for the club," he said. "The time to talk about this is tomorrow.”
United's Hamdi Salihi is one of 27 current Designated Players in MLS. One veteran writer points out the big-picture significance of that fact when it comes to league development and strategy.
San Jose's Tressor Moreno wasn't a DP, but the Quakes will still clear significant cap room by allowing the attacking midfielder to return to Chile with Santiago Wanderers. (SPANISH)
The MLS All-Star Game First XI is without a Hispanic representative, a development that has one writer riled up by the results of the fan voting.
US women's national team star Hope Solo was in the news for the wrong reasons yesterday, receiving a public warning for a positive test for a banned substance. She will still be able to play in the London Olympics as the positive test resulted from an oversight on her part: "I took a medication prescribed by my personal doctor for premenstrual purposes that I did not know contained a diuretic," Solo said.
Brazilian Neymar could very well be the star of the Olympics when it comes to soccer. The New York Times makes sure you are well acquainted with the attacking prodigy with this in-depth story.
It appears the Colorado Rapids missed out on the signature of Panamanian striker Luis Rentería, who will instead go on loan to Arsenal de Sarandí in Argentina. (SPANISH)
Former Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers is preparing for his first full season with Leeds United, and the American says the club is targeting nothing short of a Premier League return: "[Getting promoted] is the goal for Leeds United," Rogers told Goal.com. "There's a huge fan following [in England] and there's a massive tradition at the club. There's a lot of pressure there but that's what comes with being at club like Leeds."
Finally, Seattle fans are known for their tifo and they impressed one of their own on Saturday with a surf-inspired ode that prompted the following quote: "If I could've run up there and shook everyone's hands, I would have. It was so cool."
MLSsoccer.com Musts
ExtraTime Radio: Making sense of John Spencer's firing in Portland
"Grandpa" De Rosario honored by seventh All-Star nod
Consensus in Seattle: Win over Rapids was return to form
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