AMSTERDAM – Suddenly out of favor with Belgian champions Anderlecht, US midfielder Sacha Kljestan is being courted by Greek Super League kings Olympiacos.
Sources close to both the player and the Athens giants have confirmed recent Belgian reports of ongoing transfer interest. Olympicaos got a good look at Kljestan, who has two years remaining on his Anderlecht deal, during a pair of Champions League tilts between the two clubs last year.
Since joining Anderlecht from Chivas USA in the summer of 2010, Kljestan has notched 21 goals and 20 assists in 158 overall games. The California native also helped the Brussels side qualify for the Champions League group phase twice and this past spring became just the second American (after Philadelphia Union midfielder Maurice Edu with Scottish power Rangers) to celebrate three league titles with the same European top-flight club.
However, Kljestan struggled with various ailments over the last half of the 2013-14 campaign and was dropped down the pecking order after manager Besnik Hasi took over in March. The American started just two of 12 games under the new boss and only one game in the hexagonal championship playoff. Now, along with erstwhile Anderlecht captain Guillaume Gillet, he has been deemed expendable and is reportedly available on a free transfer.
Olympiacos are the most successful Greek team of all time, with four straight league crowns and 41 in total. Should Kljestan join up, he would become the third American to play for the club, following Peter Philipakos and Peter Skouras.
