Derby County midfielder Robbie Savage said a move to the Vancouver Whitecaps is very much a possibility, but it'll be a difficult decision to make.
The 36-year-old made the admission in his weekly column for The Daily Mirror on Friday.
"Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS have offered me a chance to play for them," Savage wrote. "On one hand, it's a beautiful city, an amazing new stadium and the chance to be in at the start of something exciting.
"On the other, I worry about leaving Derby in the lurch, saying a temporary goodbye to friends and family and missing out on talking to fans every week on 606."
[inline_node:326406]Savage was referring to a soccer-themed radio show he hosts on BBC Radio 5, called 606. Savage has said in the past that he's interested in a career in media after he retires from playing. He recently won a national award, the Plain English Award, which recognizes commentators who avoid using jargon and speaking "gobbledygook."
"I'm torn by it all," Savage continued. "Stay in England and continue with the media career I've worked hard to build over the past year? Or take a big leap into the unknown — albeit in a city where my wife Sarah already has family?"
The Welshman also expressed concerns — initially raised by Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand through a Twitter conversation — about moving his two young sons to a new country and the impact that could have on their lives.
The Daily Mirror first reported that Savage was a Vancouver Whitecaps target on Thursday. For the move to happen, though, it's likely Derby would have to let Savage go on a free transfer. However, Vancouver's part-owner Jeff Mallett also owns a share of Derby and could help make the transfer happen.
Known for his feisty character and crunching tackles — he was once ranked the dirtiest player in the EPL by a British newspaper — Savage has played in the top English leagues for over 16 years, starting his career in Manchester United’s youth system before spells with Crewe Alexandra, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers and now Derby County.
"I've got to be honest and say that part of the lure of Vancouver for me is the chance to keep playing," Savage wrote. "For all my planning for a life without football, I'm not ready to even think about retiring. For me, it's like thinking about death."
