Fresh off of arguably the best 18 months of his career, Landon Donovan is back in the middle of transfer rumors. Whether by loan or on a permanent transfer, Everton and now Fulham are being linked to the Los Angeles Galaxy and United States player, but that is hardly confirmation of Donovan's impending exit from Los Angeles. In fact, no team has made public their putting a bid in on Donovan or their expressed intent to do so when the transfer window opens in January so any talk of Donovan making a move away from the Home Dept Center is purely speculation. But there is good reason to think he could be eying a move.
Landon Donovan Staring At A Winter Of Options
After a disappointing three-month loan to Bayern Munich in early 2009 where it appeared as if Donovan got caught in the middle of a power struggle between then manager Jurgen Klinsmann and the club’s board, Donovan’s ability to play abroad in the world’s top leagues was questioned again. Considering his failures with Bayern Leverkusen and a poor 2006 World Cup, questioning Donovan’s ability to play against the best was perfectly legitimate. Then, Donovan began 18 months on non-stop soccer in which he played the best soccer of his life.
Donovan’s 18 months began by helping dig the Galaxy out of a deep hole and two of the worst seasons in franchise history. He helped get Los Angeles off to a great start in 2009 and was leading the team in goals before taking off for South Africa for the Confederations Cup in June. A run to the final and a clinical finish on a beautiful counter-attack against Brazil sealed a quality tournament for the American. Back in MLS afterward, Donovan helped lead the Galaxy to the MLS Cup Final and secured the league’s MVP award for his stellar play. A three-month loan to Everton that began in January of 2010 proved Donovan could play in the best of leagues as he was key in the Toffees’ fantastic run of form over the three months. Donovan’s 18 months came to an end with another good MLS season in which the Galaxy won the Supporters Shield and, most of all, his scoring the winning goal against Algeria at the 2010 World Cup to send the Americans through to the knockout stages.
At this point, Donovan no longer has the need to prove that he can play at the highest level. He’s done it at the World Cup and he did it in the English Premier League. So the first question one has to ask is whether Donovan should even make a move away from Los Angeles. He’s happy in Los Angeles and was growing as a player before his success with Everton, so he’s proven that he can play at a high level for the national team even while playing his club soccer in MLS. He is on a team that will likely be one of the favorites to win MLS Cup so he’s not mired on a losing team and as the 28-year-old ages, he could benefit from the shorter MLS season and easier travel to national team matches.
It isn’t overly difficult to imagine Donovan staying in Los Angeles and he very well might, but if he goes to a European club, one option that should be ruled out is another three-month loan. As has been mentioned, Donovan has nothing to prove so he can’t benefit from a three-month loan in that sense and having played nearly non-stop over the last two years, he could really benefit from a full offseason before the MLS season begins. There is very little to be gained by Donovan going on a three-month loan and the short offseason could result in tired legs for the United States at the 2011 Gold Cup and for the Galaxy in the second half of the MLS season.
If Donovan is to go abroad, he would be best served to do so on a permanent basis. Tired legs are a concern after two years of non-stop soccer, but if Donovan makes a transfer, he would play out the club season, play in the 2011 Gold Cup and then get a break in July. That July break would help Donovan and in the end, he’s playing abroad in a better league than MLS in, theoretically, more important matches. So, assuming Donovan goes abroad on a permanent transfer, where would he go?
One thing to consider when evaluating Donovan’s options abroad is who can afford him. As was made clear when Everton was looking at a possible Donovan buy following his loan earlier this season, Donovan is more valuable to MLS than he is to other clubs because of his status as the best American player. Therefore, a club will likely have to pay at least $10 million and possibly more in a transfer fee, something that is tough to justify in a depressed transfer market. The high price on Donovan would seem to rule out a permanent return to Everton because the cash-strapped club would have a hard time getting the money for a Donovan transfer and then if they can get the cash (possibly by selling Steve Pienaar) spending it on a 28-year-old player.
Fulham is another possible destination and they could possibly get the money necessary to make the transfer. The Cottagers are not big spenders and the money it would cost to sign Donovan would be on the high end of what they can afford, but it is doable, if unlikely. Donovan could provide some help up top at Craven Cottage as Fulham continues to deal with the absence of Bobby Zamora and Donovan's flexibility would give him chances to play on either wing as well.
Following Donovan's failure at Bayern Munich, many people said that Donovan could never succeed in Germany after a third failure there and that his best chance to fit in stylistically would be in Spain. The less physical nature of La Liga would seemingly fit Donovan's play and his ability to run into space would give him the chance to shine. The problem is many La Liga clubs are short on money, but there are a couple possibilities in Spain. Atletico Madrid is one option and while Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero would make it so Donovan couldn't play forward, he could find time in the midfield, even if off of the bench. Malaga is another place where he could fit in well and while they have not shown a willingness to spend big in the past, they are now under the ownership of Qatari Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani. There still aren't any indications of interest in Donovan from La Liga though, so any speculation there is just that, but the league remains a good fit for the American.
Right now, there isn’t an obvious fit for Donovan on a permanent basis. Plenty of teams could certainly use a player like Donovan, but having a use for Donovan and being willing to pay the inflated price for him set by MLS are separate issues. There are rumors of Los Angeles buying Ronaldinho, giving the Galaxy a big enough name that selling Donovan at a fairer price is a possibility. That would bring in several other suitors in England and possibly elsewhere, but wherever Donovan goes, he would be best off doing so permanently.
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