Matt Besler and Graham Zusi have been the subject of transfer interest from European clubs, but both have opted to stay with Sporting Kansas City. The players announced that they have signed contract extensions with their MLS club that will make them Designated Players.
Matt Besler, Graham Zusi spurn transfers, sign extensions with Sporting KC
Sporting KC have kept their two in-demand stars.
Gary Rohman-USA TODAY Sports
Besler and Zusi were the linchpins to Sporting’s MLS Cup victory a year ago and played for the United States at this summer’s World Cup. That drove interest from clubs like Sunderland, West Ham, Fulham and even some in the Bundesliga, but once Sporting stepped up with a huge monetary offer that made them both Designated Players, they agreed to stay in Kansas City.
MLS All-Stars
MLS has made a priority of buying U.S. internationals in recent years, having gone out to get Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley, but they have also made sure to keep the internationals who draw European interest. They did it with Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez, and now with Besler and Zusi.
Jurgen Klinsmann has said he wants his players to challenge themselves at the highest level, which means going to Europe, but that hasn’t happened much with more players coming to or staying in MLS. This may not please the American manager, but it does help strengthen the league and keep it growing.
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