New York Red Bulls center back Aaron Long has reportedly emerged as a winter transfer target of Premier League powerhouse Liverpool FC, a development thatās turned plenty of heads on either side of the pond.
MLSsoccer.comās Tom Bogert has reported that teams in France and Englandās Championship have also shown interest, increasing momentum behind the 2018 MLS Defender of the Year possibly moving to Europe. In 2019, RBNY reportedly rejected "multiple bids" from Premier League side West Ham for Long's services.
As transfer reports rev up, Long spoke with Counter Attack, a SiriusXM FC show, while at the US menās national teamās January camp. Theyāre playing Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday in an international friendly, with deadline day in England coming Monday night.
āI donāt want to play the hypothetical,ā Long said. āI definitely said that my goals and aspirations are to hopefully one day be in Europe. Iām not going to put a timeline on it by any means. I donāt want to say that thatās where I need to be by a certain date because then if that doesn't happen, have I failed my goal? For now, Iām just worried on Trinidad. I just really want to show well in this game and let my agent handle the rest.ā
Long has eight goals and three assists in 105 matches (100 starts) for RBNY, emerging as one of the leagueās top center backs. Heās also appeared in 18 USMNT games, scoring three times.
That background could make Long an enticing addition for several teams across Europe. Heās eager to test himself, though is staying focused on his RBNY duties as their first full season under head coach Gerhard Struber nears.
āHopefully, if the cards fall that way, then Iāll get that experience as well,ā Long said. āBut if not, Iām a New York Red Bull player and Iām going to do my best to win a trophy with the club.ā
Should Long head to Europe, heād join USMNT center back Mark McKenzie in moving overseas this winter. McKenzie went from the Philadelphia Union to Belgiumās Genk, while FC Dallas right back Bryan Reynolds (awaits senior US debut) is reportedly heading to Italyās Serie A. Thatās on top of Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris joining Championship side Swansea City on loan, as well as Brenden Aaronson officially departing Philadelphia for Austriaās RB Salzburg.
For more from Long, check out his entire SiriusXM FC interview here.