Report: US defender Tim Ream could return to MLS "sooner rather than later"

Tim Ream - Fulham - Close up

Could former New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream be on his way back to MLS?


Not in the immediate future, but several teams around the league are monitoring his situation with English Championship outfit closely, according to a report from MSG's Kristian Dyer.


In a segment that aired ahead of the Red Bulls' 1-0 win at Vancouver on Saturday night, Dyer reported that Ream could wind up in MLS "sooner rather than later." Though Ream is reportedly "very happy at Fulham," a move could be on the cards if Ream cannot get the first-team minutes he needs with the Cottagers.


Ream has currently seen just five minutes of action across Fulham's five league games in the 2016-17 Championship season so far, though he has started and gone the distance in both of their games in the League Cup. The West London club won both those cup games and currently sit second in the Championship with a 3-0-2 record.


According to the report, Ream's situation is being monitored by "several" MLS teams. Should he be open to an MLS move, he would be subject to the league's allocation process, as he transferred abroad from the Red Bulls for a fee of over $500,000.


The 28-year-old, who can play at both center back and left back, was originally drafted by the Red Bulls in the second round (18th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He quickly established himself as a starter for New York and was a finalist for 2010 Rookie of the Year honors as he featured in 30 games, all of them starts. He played another 28 league games for the Red Bulls in 2011 before transferring to Bolton Wanderers ahead of the 2012 campaign.


Ream made his national team debut in November 2010 and was part of US squads for both the 2011 and 2015 Gold Cups. He currently has 21 appearances for the USMNT and scored his first international goal in his lone appearance for the Yanks in 2016, a 3-1 win over Puerto Rico in May.