We’re seeing a lot more people come into the Transfer Tavern on the weekend to keep track of the MLS football going on Stateside and the growth of ‘soccer’ is clear for all to see.
With the MLS attracting the likes of Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in the past year or so, the lure of enjoying one final swan song before hanging up your boots is clear for all to see.
However, with Sebastian Giovinco enjoying success on the other side of his thirties we could see a fresh crop of players head stateside in the coming years.
Whilst that’s up for debate, it’s pretty clear that a number of Premier League players could be heading to the MLS at some stage this year and we’ve done a quick bit of research with our punters to see which players they reckon will move across the pond in 2016.
Hit Gerrard below to see FIVE players who could follow in his footsteps this year!
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John Terry
The Chelsea legend shocked the world this week when he publicly announced he will be leaving at the end of the season, with the Blues captain making it very clear that the decision was made by the club and not himself.
Whilst the backlash from the fans could make the club revisit their stance, it may all depend on who comes in to takeover as Chelsea manager at the end of the season. With John Terry now 35, it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see the Blues stick with their decision.
Should Terry leave, the MLS is the most likely destination for him and he can link-up with compatriots like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. With David Beckham’s franchise launching in 2018, English attention across the pond will increase significantly.
Yaya Toure
Everyone at Manchester City was delighted with yesterday’s announcement that Pep Guardiola will start a three-year tenure at the club in the summer, though it’s unlikely Yaya Toure shared that emotion. The pair of course have history at Barcelona, where Toure was pushed out of the club.
Toure has looked set for an exit ever since the infamous birthday cake fiasco and the MLS beckons, with a number of franchises likely very keen on the player as his arrival could open the door to the African market.
However, Toure strikes us as the kind of person who pursues financial goals so the lure of China or Qatar could also be a possibility.
Michael Carrick
Turning 35 in the summer, long-serving Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick seems set to be one of the names on a long list of players to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. With his contract expiring, it’ll be an easy exit route for him to follow.
With over 300 Premier League appearances in his career, Carrick will provide a wealth of experience to any MLS side- although he wouldn’t quite be the ‘big name’ that franchises like. Nevertheless, he’d be a loyal servant and a massive coup, especially for the less-known teams in the division.
Tomas Rosicky
Another free agent when this season draws to a close, the 35-year-old Czech international is likely to bring a close to a ten-year association with Arsenal. Injury problems could mean he hangs up his boots but we expect him to have a couple of years elsewhere first.
Rosicky could be lured back to Europe, where he has history with Borussia Dortmund and in his homeland, but the little Mozart is another potential recruit for the MLS. With 100 caps for his national side, he’d be worthy of a big move to America as one final swan song.
Joleon Lescott
Not the biggest name on the list but a player who seems certain to be on his way out of Aston Villa in the summer, with the club looking destined for relegation to the Championship. As a high-earner, Lescott is likely to be one of the first names out of Villa Park.
The 33-year-old was a January target for LA Galaxy, though a move never materialised, but Lescott could join compatriot Steven Gerrard in Los Angeles come the summer. Given the way Villa are performing this season, he probably wishes he could follow the route of the West Midlands immediately.
