BOLTON CLOSING IN ON PERMANENT REAM DEAL: It is looking more and more likely that Tim Ream will be the latest MLS center back to try his luck overseas. ESPN is reporting that Bolton has made an official offer for the player and the clubs are close to an agreement that would send the young defender to the EPL side for somewhere between $2.5 million and $3 million. Ream would join Stu Holden at Bolton should the deal go through. (ESPN.com - Jan. 6, 2012)
ALL SIGNS POINT TO A BRAZIL STAY FOR JUNINHO: Official word hasn't come out of LA just yet, but all indications are that Juninho's time with the Galaxy is finished. The latest sign, which is about as compelling as they come, is an interview with the midfielder on Sao Paulo FC's official website. It seems LA would have liked to keep hold of the Brazilian, but he and the club felt it was time to return to Sao Paulo to compete for a place in the team. (São Paulo Futebol Clube - Jan. 4, 2012)
ANOTHER AMERICAN AT HAMMARBY?: According to a Swedish outlet, 21-year-old North Carolina star Billy Schuler, who passed up on a Generation adidas offer to try his luck overseas, is just a medical exam away from becoming former LA Galaxy defender and current Hammarby coach Gregg Berhalter's most recent acquisition. (FotbollsExpressen.se - Jan. 4, 2012)
STANKOVIC EYEING MOVE ACROSS ATLANTIC?: Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic is the latest European star linked to MLS, following an age-old formula by being connected to New York and Los Angeles. The 33-year-old midfielder has made 10 appearances for Inter this season, five of them from the substitute's bench. (Sport.it - Jan. 3, 2012)
CD9 AND WONDO TO DENMARK?: Former D.C. United striker Charlie Davies could be on the move again, this time to Danish side AGF Aarhus. And there's another name in the mix for AGF that might surprise fans in the Bay Area: Chris Wondolowski. It appears the club could be interested in both US scoring threats. (Stiftstidende - Jan. 4, 2012)
VIKING INVASION CONTINUES: With Tim Ream possibly on the way out and Ráfa Marquez looking like a midfielder for life, New York have targeted the central defense as the offseason's No. 1 priority. On Tuesday rumors surfaced that they've inked out-of-contract Swede Markus Holgersson, who most recently suited up with Helsingborgs. The 6-foot-3 26-year-old is hoping to earn his first cap later this month when Swedenface Qatar. (fotbol.expressen.se - Jan. 3, 2012)
ANOTHER CHILEAN IN COLUMBUS?: Universidad Católica captain Milovan Mirosevic could be following his former teammate Sebastián Miranda to Columbus. This report claims that Mirosevic -- a 31-year-old attacking midfielder -- has received "a good offer" from the Crew, which would be for two years. (deportes.terra.cl - Jan. 3, 2012)
MÁS COLOMBIANOS: Word out of Colombia is that a pair of youngsters are accepting the chance to play in MLS "with open arms." (Cue the Journey soundtrack.) Javier Espitia, a 19-year-old centerback, and Franco Donado, a 20-year-old holding midfielder, are reportedly friends with Seattle's Fredy Montero, and they are eager to join their countryman in North America. (El Heraldo - Jan. 2, 2012)
ON SECOND THOUGHT: Remember a few weeks ago when the news broke that former USMNT striker Eddie Johnson -- out of contract for several months -- was due to join DaMarcus Beasley at Puebla? Well, the club's coaching staff, including boss Juan Carlos Osorio, changed its mind after seeing him train for a few days. Supposedly, he didn't meet their "phyical expectations" or have the pace they thought he had. (Mediotiempo.com - Jan. 2, 2012)
THE WAY TO SAN JOSE...: ...might go through Spurs' reserve team. That's where Simon Dawkins came from, and now it seems like 19-year-old midfielder John Bostock is headed to Northern California to join the Earthquakes on some sort of loan. (Quake, Rattle & Goal - Jan. 2, 2012)
