Brek Shea, here for the USMNT….(photo credit: Matt Mathai)
(Report: Via Taylor Twellman on Twitter, FC Dallas and Stoke City are near completion on a transfer deal for Texan Brek Shea valued at somwhere around $3.5M)
Welcome to the Jurgen Klinsmann England football factory.
We’ve written it in this space before, but it was Klinsmann who was instrumental in getting Geoff Cameron to Stoke City. It was also Klinsmann–we theorize–who called in the Cameron favor on Maurice Edu so the US central midfielder kept his value up in the wake of the Rangers debacle in Scotland.
Now?
Brek Shea welcome to the Potters. It’s really an ideal situation for the US forward who has suffered–it says here–more from herky-jerky coaching than a lack of development. Sure Shea had to grow at times over the past two seasons, but as Fox writer Leander Schaerlaeckens points out on Twitter, “Every single player that has ever spoken his mind to Schellas Hyndman was gone within 6 months.”
Shea will join a Stoke City team that tends to keep its wingers pinned back allowing ample space on the flanks. That said, the central midfield of the Potters is typically more concerned with defensive integrity rather than on-the-floor table setting.
Shea should get ample one-vs-one opportunities
More:
Get Him The Damn Ball: The Brek Shea Story by Alex Olshansky
An analysis of how Brek Shea’s troubling 2012 season was more about how and where he was played.
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Posted by Durdledaturtle on 2013/01/18 at 4:22 PM
Adam Johnson plays for Sunderland
Posted by matthewsf on 2013/01/18 at 4:24 PM
I completed flubbed this — revising. Thanks for the note.
Posted by Stu on 2013/01/18 at 4:28 PM
So is he going to Stoke or Sunderland?
Posted by matthewsf on 2013/01/18 at 4:32 PM
I completely messed up. And it is now fixed. I’m an ass. But that was known.
Posted by Josh Hanson on 2013/01/18 at 4:34 PM
That was fun to read. I didn’t know Paul Lambert had taken to playing again.
Posted by matthewsf on 2013/01/18 at 4:42 PM
Haha — ok — no more Friday early drinking.
Posted by Josh Hanson on 2013/01/18 at 4:43 PM
Friday early drinking is encouraged. Just get the articles written first.
Posted by matthewsf on 2013/01/18 at 5:04 PM
That said, I think he’d be a good fit at Sunderland. :>
Posted by Nick on 2013/01/18 at 7:30 PM
The last Texan that left MLS for a mid-table(ish) Premier League side, for about that much money turned out ok.
Posted by crow on 2013/01/18 at 8:09 PM
So they would be planning to use him as a LW right? Because I heard a report saying teams were targeting him at LB. I was one a year or two who was asking for him to be played in defense or in the center of the pitch but I was wrong. I hope he gets to play at LW.
Posted by Nelson on 2013/01/18 at 8:32 PM
Hey, you guys…I’m Stoked about this move.
Posted by s44 on 2013/01/18 at 9:54 PM
This is all well and good but the lack of Everton news so far is killing me.
Posted by mbw on 2013/01/19 at 9:24 AM
Does anyone else find the figure, $3.5M, suspiciously low? I would have thought $5-7M, and would have had a hard time imagining the league signing off for less than like $4.5M.
Posted by Steve Fenn @OptaHunt on 2013/01/19 at 10:02 AM
First, it has to be mentioned that there are now reports that the offer was rejected. this makes sense, because FCD has Shea under contract through the end of the 2015 season, & have always valued him much higher than $3.5mm.
Also worth noting that Brek had surgery to remove a bone in his foot only a couple months ago, & probably wont be on any pitch until April. Gotta wonder if FCD’s possible willingness to sell is pessimism over his recovery, annoyance at his attitude, or some other factor.
Posted by mbw on 2013/01/19 at 12:02 PM
Sky Sports is saying it’s actually £3M or $4.76M, which makes a lot more sense. I suppose the comp is Dempsey, who sold for about $4M in 2006. Dempsey had World Cup experience, a second Best XI season, and fewer injury questions. But Shea is a year younger, has played in a stronger MLS, and has likely benefited from a general inflation in the valuation of MLS players.
Posted by leftoff77 on 2013/01/19 at 12:32 PM
@mbw
Errr…a year younger than who? Dempsey?
Posted by Ufficio on 2013/01/19 at 1:48 PM
Than Dempsey was in January 2007, when he transfered to Fulham.
Posted by chris_thebassplayer on 2013/01/20 at 11:59 PM
Risky move given his maturity level and lack of discipline. He needs to take better care of himself off the field and get serious about his football. Hopefully the structure and competitive environment will sharpen his focus.
Posted by Gabe on 2013/01/22 at 9:07 AM
Is this confirmed yet? I absolutely love this move. Stoke play incredibly disciplined football and the step up in competition will give Brek a challenge/opportunity to take his game to the next level – he’s obviously got the talent (as long as he completely overcomes the injuries). Cameron’s thriving, hopefully he will, too.
Posted by Gabe on 2013/01/22 at 9:10 AM
Ugh, according to ESPN, MLS is holding up the deal and demanding a higher valuation: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/conversation?id=1308440&cc=5901