AMSTERDAM – Before our Gold Cup summer begins, there's still time to remember that several US internationals of all ages will soon enter German club seasons already wrapped in question marks.
We're to undo the tangle a little in giving ideas on what to expect from our boys and their clubs in Germany's top two flights. Even though he currently is employed by a 2. Bundesliga team, we will start with the current headline-maker among our exports to Deutschland …
Bobby Wood - 1860 Munich
The impact that international performances have on transfer dealings is often overstated, but there's no question that Wood's stunning late winner to beat Germany in Cologne last week spiked interest in the country. Tabloid paper Bild proclaimed last weekend that the forward has a done deal to join Stuttgart, but the report is, at best, premature.
Though not yet confirmed, I've heard that talks continue with Stuttgart and that Kaiserslautern also remain in the running. Meanwhile, 1860 have publicly stated that the player has several bidders, with Bundesliga risers Darmstadt named as a suitor in several German reports.
Wood recently told MLSsoccer.com that he hopes to have the situation resolved sooner rather than later. Not named to the Gold Cup provisional squad by Klinsmann, Wood has a better shot at getting his wish.
Julian Green - Bayern Munich
What happens with Green this coming season is anybody's guess. With little room in the title-winning first team, one might assume another loan is in order. Maybe so, but Bayern will probably want to give him a look before making any decision. Considering he played more at the Toulon Tournament this month than he did in a season with Hamburg, that look may well start with Bayern II.
Joe Gyau - Borussia Dortmund
The shifty winger is another American whose first aim for the new season is to get back in a condition to take part in it. Gyau told MLSsoccer.com last week that he was slated to leave his knee brace and crutches behind in July. As his cartilage setback was not serious, both he and the club expect him back to his old self after a reasonable stretch of rust-shedding rehab and training.
His team squeaked into the last Europa League slot, so they will hope to be stretched by fixtures for a while. There is a lot of expectation that BvB will leave last season's wretchedly slow start behind to enjoy a strong wire-to-wire campaign; getting Gyau back in the rotation by winter could provide fresh legs and a boost off the bench.
Fabian Johnson - Borussia Mönchengladbach
Having now found his role at 'Gladbach, Johnson should be a threat to become the first American to notch double-digit assists in a European top flight. The club's addition of striker Josip Drmic this summer will not hurt that quest one bit.
Of course, the Foals have an automatic pass to the Champions League group stage. Even so, that gives them about a month to figure out balancing league play and the big dance. The squad is good enough to cause real scares, but the increased pressure that comes with the transition they're making usually presents some bumps.
Timothy Chandler - Eintracht Frankfurt
The right back was decent in his initial season with the club, so better will be expected this time. There is certainly room for Chandler to tighten up his game on both sides of the ball.
Eintracht ended the season poorly, taking themselves out of Europa League contention. If they hope to finish in the better half of the table, the defense needs to step it up big-time. This team scores enough to contend for Europe.
John Anthony Brooks - Hertha Berlin
After a largely sterling back half of last season, Brooks will want to add consistency to his efforts as he continues growing into a backline monster. Best-case scenario? This will be his big breakout campaign, and a bigger fish will come to snap him up.
More than any other team on this list, Hertha can do much better than finishing above the drop zone on goal differential. If everyone pulls their weight, a mid-table spot is certainly possible.
Alfredo Morales - Ingolstadt
It has been four seasons since a far greener Morales worked eight Bundesliga contests for Hertha. Now, after excelling as one of the Audi Boys' most important and consistent performers during their promotion campaign last term, he will get chances to show the big boys what he's learned.
It won't be easy for Morales or Ingolstadt, but they do possess good squad continuity with a bunch containing some decent, young-ish talent around the pitch. If the American can carve out more than 25 starts and his team can manage to stay up, that would be fantastic for everyone involved.
Terrence Boyd - RB Leipzig
Like a few others here, this season's step one for the Red Bulls striker is to regain full fitness. The US forward is on schedule to begin the preseason with his teammates and hungry to build on what was a decent start to his time in Leipzig.
A late swoon cost his team a shot at a third straight promotion, but the ambitious club will simply try again this year. Among the reinforcements on the way is young Belgian winger Massimo Bruno, whose crosses just so happen to be the stuff Boyd's dreams are made of.
Jerome Kiesewetter - Stuttgart
The Schwabians did not seem overly high on the US U-23 forward last season, when he made just two first-team appearances for a side struggling to score until a late surge secured survival. There are also plenty of attackers with Bundesliga cachet on the roster, yet Kiesewetter has been promoted to the senior squad this summer.
Whether he is there to rattle the veterans or for an earnest shot at playing time, any league outings will be a bonus for his development. Stuttgart, however, have much more weight on their shoulders. The players can do better than a season-long relegation squeak.
Caleb Stanko - Freiburg
While countryman and fellow defensive midfielder Ethan Sonis continues trying to find his feet with the reserves, Stanko should first hope to return smoothly from last September's ACL tear. Once he regains match fitness with Freiburg II, the US youth international can go back to climbing toward the first team
The team's outlook is a bit trickier, as struggles are no rare event for clubs dropping into the German second division. Freiburg have done fairly well to restock the squad already, but blending takes time. They could sure use a 100-percent Stanko to boost the midfield stable.
Andrew Wooten - Sandhausen
Splitting time between the No. 9 role and right wing, Wooten bagged a career-high eight goals to go with three assists last season. However, his production has a tendency to wane by March. At 25, he must now become more consistent in league play to rise from a top-15 scorer to more of a top-five threat (and necessary US call-up, for that matter).
The same could be said of his hot-and-cold side, who have made baby steps since rising into the 2. Bundesliga three years ago. It took them four years to master the 3. Liga, but this is another realm. A dozen goals from Wooten contributing to a top-10 finish in the table for Sandhausen would qualify as continued progress.
