The New York Red Bulls appear out of the running to bring United States national team striker Jozy Altidore back to Major League Soccer, according to a report on ESPNFC on Thursday.
Altidore was first linked to an MLS return on Wednesday, when ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman reported that the league was in negotiations to bring Altidore stateside amid a frustrating turn with English Premier League side Sunderland.
Twellman indicated that the Red Bulls, Toronto FC and Portland Timbers were among the potential landing spots for the veteran USMNT striker, but ESPNFC followed up on Thursday with a report saying that Altidore’s asking price to return to New York is too steep.
Altidore is demanding a salary in the $5-6 million range, according to the report, and it’s expected that Sunderland would ask a multi-million dollar transfer fee to let Altidore go after first signing him for $10 million in 2013.
If Altidore were to sign a contract between $5-6 million, he would become one of the five highest paid players in the league, along with Orlando City’s Kaka, Seattle’s Clint Dempsey and the Toronto FC duo of Michael Bradley and Jermain Defoe.
The Red Bulls currently have two Designated Player spots available after the offseason retirement of Thierry Henry, while all three DP slots are currently filled in both Toronto and Portland.
Altidore, 25, has scored just one goal in 42 Premier League appearances for Sunderland since making the move to England from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in 2013.
He got his professional start with the Red Bulls as a teenager in 2006 and was later sold for a league-record $10 million fee to Spanish side Villarreal in June 2008.
