Transfer Rumours Transfer & Rumour Mill.

Columbus Crew SC recently received a transfer offer of nearly $4 million from English Championship club Bristol City for goalkeeper Zack Steffen, league sources have told MLSsoccer.com.

Columbus head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter wouldn't confirm to MLSsoccer.com that Crew SC received a bid from Bristol City for Steffen, but he did acknowledge that "multiple clubs" have expressed interest in the 23-year-old this summer.

"Every transfer window we've had we’ve been getting calls about some of our players, so this is pretty much normal," Berhalter said over the phone on Wednesday afternoon. "What I’d say is that, like always, we want to be a place where we get players and we develop them and we help them advance in their careers, wherever that may be. Whether that’s staying with us and improving and becoming a great player within this league or if it happens to be moving abroad, we are open to the idea of players coming here and developing and getting better and this is pretty much in line with that."

Steffen signed with Columbus in July 2016 following two years with German club SC Freiburg and became the full-time starter after Crew SC parted ways with Steve Clark that winter. One of the top young goalkeepers in MLS, he’s recorded 16 shutouts in 50 career regular season appearances for Crew SC and helped the club to a berth in the 2017 Eastern Conference Championship with some standout performances in the playoffs last fall.

The US international was named MLS Player of the Month for a standout May in which he didn’t allow a single goal in five matches as Columbus went 3-0-2. He has seven clean sheets in 16 league games this season.

The starting goalkeeper for the US at the 2015 Under-20 World Cup, Steffen received his first USMNT call-up for a May 2016 friendly against Puerto Rico. He made his senior international debut in a scoreless draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in January and started the US’ last match, a 1-1 draw at France on June 9.

Though he’s been called to every USMNT camp in 2018 and appears to be one of the leading contenders to be the future No. 1, Steffen doesn’t have enough USMNT experience to automatically qualify for an English work permit should the transfer go through. He'd likely need to go through an appeals panel to receive authorization to play in England.

Bristol City finished 11th in the 24-team Championship in the 2017-18 season. Goalkeeper Frank Fielding, 30, started 43 of their 48 league games last season, but he suffered an injury in a preseason friendly over the weekend that, according to a report, accelerated Bristol’s ongoing search for a new goalkeeper. Bristol will begin the 2018-19 campaign on Aug. 4 against Nottingham Forest.

Columbus are currently in fourth in the East. They’ll host Orlando City on Saturday (7:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info).

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Seems both are internationals, tells me Frankie will be on his way.

 

Frankie has been a great servant for our club & I believe supporters should give him respect.

 

First question: Zack Steffen latest
From online - how close is a deal for US goalkeeper Zack Steffen?

I’d be a little bit careful on this one just yet, City fans. Yes, City want him (as per reports in the US) and yes he looks a class act. Four penalty saves in a row wasn’t it? And it’s encouraging that Lee Johnson has been willing to wait to get the right goalkeeper but a fee hasn’t been agreed yet and given that Steffen is very highly rated that may not be so easy. However, yes, I’ve seen the report by Goal.com and it does seem like a deal is edging closer. I believe that the next few days will be key as the Robins find out if Columbus and the MLS will let Steffen go - I understand that the league there has to sanction a move too for the player - and they may decide that given his potential then they look to keep him and develop him more in the US before selling for more in the future. However, fingers crossed. My opinion is that he’s just the sort of player City should be going for and if it comes off it could be a record bid for a US goalkeeper.


Second keeper in?
From Luke on Twitter - how close are Steffen and Maenpaa?

Steffen answers below. Niki Maenpaa has been with the club for a week according to my sources. I believe he played against Newport County as the trialist last Wednesday and has remained with the squad even coming out to Spain. I was told that he was sat next to Marlon Pack in the stands on Tuesday night.

When I went over to interview Lee Johnson after the game on Tuesday - I’m in the official club video of Lee Johnson’s interview following the game in the blurry distance, blue jacket - I was actually stood next to Maenpaa and thought at the time ‘aye, aye, who’s this as I don’t recognise the chap...’. As there are so many City support staff out in Spain - analysts, media people and more - I stupidly put him down as a club official. Doh. That’s me taught. In fact he might just be visible on the edge of the official club Lee Johnson interview too.

Short answer: Lee is evaluating him, I believe. And given he’s been with the Robins a week I’d say there’s a very good chance that he might remain permanently.

Knock-on effect of two incomings?
Additional comment regarding the two possible goalkeeper signings.

IF - repeat IF - both goalkeepers sign then I would not be surprised if there was another outgoing transfer before the end of the window. Remember our story on the three north west clubs being interested in Frank Fielding at the start of the summer? Was told by a source that if something happened then it might be towards the end of the window. Nothing’s concrete but I believe there’s a chance of things playing out that way. Believe that the interest in Fielding remains. But City would need to bring in two goalkeepers first, of course.

Jack Marriott latest
From Tim on Twitter: With the Marriott deal in the water seemingly. What do you think was the main stumbling block? Wages, transfer fee, not a ideal replacement or possibly his attitude?

This never-ending Jack Marriott story... Bristol City were interested. And I believe still ARE. However, as I’ve said before, he will only come in IF City lose a player. My information was that a number of Bristol City players were told that they might leave the club at the beginning of the summer if the right offer came in (nothing unusual about that; regular practice at football clubs and also a bit of honesty shown) and if certain players left then Marriott would be a major target.

Barry Fry and Darragh MacAnthony have both revealed City’s interest but I would point you at Lee Johnson’s comments to Geoff Twentyman at the beginning of the summer in that long BBC Radio Bristol interview. I thought it was very interesting that out of nowhere the head coach dropped in the name of Marriott and said that he was being touted for some £5m when he was untested in the Championship. That points to a major difference in valuations. I think City will remain interested in him until he moves elsewhere but they now have Andreas Weimann while no clubs have yet met Posh’s valuation.

Don’t be taken in by all the sales pitches at the Posh end! If City really wanted him they would have splashed out on him. I’m tipping Jamie Paterson, Andreas Weimann and Matty Taylor to have good seasons this campaign and show why Marriott is an extravagance that City don’t need currently.

Joe Bryan update
From Denman on Twitter: Thoughts or any inside knowledge on Bryan? Constantly being linked away to other champ clubs (twitter rumours) however coming across via social media he’s staying for the season.

Was told by two separate sources some time ago that Joe would not be signing a new deal at Bristol City, as per the last report I wrote on the left-back’s future. Similar situation to Bobby Reid. I’ve been told that there are a lot of rumours that he’s going to sign a new deal. That’s not how I see it. I put that to one of the above two contacts and they dismissed it. In fact they added that there is further interest in the defender (which I hope to find out more on to write about).

My understanding is that he will likely be sold before the end of the window. I would just caveat that with things change very quickly and we know that Joe is a great servant of Bristol City and academy graduate. I don’t think he wants to leave on a free transfer as that would give the club nothing. So maybe there is a compromise to be had: new short term deal with a release clause. That might happen if no moves materialise before August 9.

However, likeliest scenario according to my information: leaves before the end of the window for a slightly reduced fee.

Extra Joe discussion
Gregor adds the following to the Bryan discussion.

Lee Johnson discussed Joe’s chances of being captain for the Forest game yesterday with BBC Radio Bristol. Would make a fine choice in my opinion: academy graduate, Bristolian, becoming a leader on the pitch and one of the first names on the team sheet . However, I got the impression that he might not be given the arm band permanently from Lee’s answer. Maybe that’s a hint to Joe’s future. Just my opinion. (My vote would be Marlon Pack, incidentally.)


Also, I got the impression on Tuesday night that Joe was not keen to speak to independent media following the Marbella game. That’s just my interpretation, again. He spoke to the official club channel and then dashed off. That’s not the actions of someone keen to talk about their future in BS3 by my reckoning (although admittedly could be a number of reasons and fair play if so) but we’ll see.

Frank Fielding's injury
Any news on Frank’s injury? - from Sam on Twitter.

Yes: out with a hip-adductor problem, Sam. Had a scan on Monday. Lee Johnson said this week that the club don’t want to put a time scale on the injury but he confirmed that we’re looking at several weeks out at least. He ruled him out of the August 4 game against Nottingham Forest.


Enough striking options?
From Martin (and to also answer Jack): Do we feel we have enough attacking options upfront especially with Fam our for the first 6 games? Is Paterson an option to play as a striker more often now? Do you see a new striker on the horizon?

I wouldn’t rule out a new striker just yet. Lee Johnson said yesterday that he only really wants to add a couple of goalkeepers to his squad and then he’d be happy. However - as well reported - there is interest in Milan Djuric. I was told that the chances of that deal happening were 50/50 and not much has changed there. If Djuric goes then we’ll see City replace him with Diedhiou suspended.

My gut feeling is that Djuric will stay. He’s in line to replace Fam. And yes, City have enough strikers/attackers currently. Paterson will play more often at no.10 and he could make a huge difference this season in my opinion. Have written about it before that he offers a few subtle differences to Bobby Reid if not the finishing ability. I think Paterson is a player who could help City score more goals as a team.

If Djuric goes then I wouldn’t be surprised if City went for a player like Kieffer Moore who is likely available, the right profile and who was unplayable at times when City visited Oakwell last season. Chances are that City will soon be done in the transfer market though with just two keepers added.

Last question
From Aaron on Twitter on Zack Steffen: After reading your latest article on Steffen, there was one theme which I couldn’t get over. He left Frieburg “revealing he was eager to be reunited with friends and family.” How can we guarantee that he’ll want to come back to Europe? Does this make the deal null and void?

Wouldn’t read too much into that, Aaron. He also said in December that he wanted to return to Europe to test himself there again at some point. Also, with football being a fairly short career the money offered can make a difference. Not always the case but can be a factor. Certainly if Steffen signs then it will be to help City reach the Premier League, play there himself and he will see former US players such as Brad Friedel and Tim Howard as inspirations as to what can be achieved over here and on that front. Let’s hope that Mark Ashton and co can get this one over the line.

 

Yes fantastic servant, but not good enough for top end championship club,hopefully that is where city are heading.The weakest link in the team at present.

 

IF - repeat IF - both goalkeepers sign then I would not be surprised if there was another outgoing transfer before the end of the window. Remember our story on the three north west clubs being interested in Frank Fielding at the start of the summer? Was told by a source that if something happened then it might be towards the end of the window. Nothing’s concrete but I believe there’s a chance of things playing out that way. Believe that the interest in Fielding remains. But City would need to bring in two goalkeepers first, of course.

 

Striking options? Look at Vancouver Whitecap player Alonso Davies and you might find a diamond in the rough Lee.

 

Mike - is Rob Earnshaw still there?

 

If Frank goes who is going to be the knockers next target ?

 

LJ will get the full force as usual mate

 

Oldsparkey. I believe that Rob has retired and gone in to coaching and did you know he is the only player to score a hat trick in all four divisions? Might want to check that out.

 

Add to that 'and for his country'.

 

Quite rightly he got all the plaudits pre Christmas.
He'll get 'the full force' on the results come August.
Quite rightly, one way or the other.

I am glad we're seriously looking, at last, to spend decent money on a keeper.
In my eyes as important as a 20 goal a season striker.

 

100% agree a quality keeper can be worth 20 points a season minimum.