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Invoice Connelly
Final weekend, Bayer Leverkusen formally signed American attacking midfielder Malik Tillman. The 23-year-old loved two strong seasons at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 24 objectives with 15 assists in 68 appearances in all competitions. And he was stellar for america males’s nationwide crew within the Gold Cup and friendlies over the summer time, with three objectives and three assists in eight appearances. A report signing for the German membership, he will probably be an necessary member of a rebuilt Leverkusen assault.
Tillman additionally may have a main alternative to maintain his nationwide crew inventory excessive for the 2026 World Cup. He is likely to be the front-runner to start out within the central attacking midfield function in U.S. supervisor Mauricio Pochettino’s most popular 4-2-3-1 formation, and a stable season for a Champions League membership and up to date Bundesliga champion will solely reinforce that.
We are inclined to see loads of jostling for place in World Cup years. Whereas the U.S. has loads of stalwarts and, if wholesome, probably 2026 starters — together with left again Antonee Robinson, proper again Sergiño Dest, midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, and winger Christian Pulisic (recent drama aside) — there are many spots on the 26-player roster for subsequent summer time. And we may see fairly a number of gamers looking for adjustments in surroundings this season with a type of spots in thoughts.
Listed below are seven nationwide crew members who’re gearing up for prime U.S. lineup or roster spots in 2026 and will — or possibly ought to — change golf equipment within the coming weeks or months. What could be their greatest strikes, if any?
Present crew: Juventus
The 25-year-old Weah began all 4 video games for the U.S. within the 2022 World Cup, scoring the opening goal in an eventual draw with Wales, and he has made three appearances since Pochettino took over in September.
Weah finds himself in a difficult place at Juventus: He battled a hamstring harm for a superb chunk of the 2024-25 marketing campaign and was out and in of the lineup, spending time at a number of positions.
He is additionally a little bit of a tweener: He’s an excellent scorer and ball progressor for a fullback, and he is a superb presser and defender as a winger; however he is not a pure in both spot. Over the previous two seasons with Juve, he has recorded 3,716 minutes in all competitions (ninth on the crew), with seven objectives (sixth), six assists (seventh) and 38 blocked passes (fifth) defensively. He’s stable nearly all over the place, however he is spectacular nowhere.
Since Igor Tudor took over as Juve supervisor on March 23, the right-footed Weah has began simply three of 13 matches and made appearances totally on the left facet of the lineup in Tudor’s 3-4-2-1 formation. Juve have shopped him round and agreed to a cope with Nottingham Forest, however Weah turned down Forest’s contract offer. Now, he is in talks with Marseille.
Marseille could be an intriguing match. Supervisor Roberto De Zerbi bounced between a 3-4-2-1 and 4-2-3-1 formation final season, and Weah’s flexibility may make him an necessary participant. His greatest place would virtually actually be with no consideration midfielder or wing again in a setup with a three-man protection, however since Pochettino is primarily a 4-2-3-1 man, this could break up the distinction properly.
If Inter Milan have been to ship Denzel Dumfries to Manchester City or elsewhere, as rumored, Weah could be a pleasant substitute possibility, as his stats have been extraordinarily just like Dumfries’ this previous season. But when that is not on the desk, Marseille could be a stable various.
Present crew: Borussia Dortmund
The only most encouraging factor you’ll be able to say about Reyna for the time being is that he is nonetheless solely 22. If we ignore the whole lot we learn about his total profession trajectory and concentrate on the uncooked stats — 5,762 minutes, 19 objectives and 14 assists with Borussia Dortmund earlier than his twenty third birthday — there’s nonetheless loads of promise right here.
An limitless string of accidents, nevertheless, has restricted his enjoying time and seemingly sapped loads of his athleticism. He has performed just one,218 membership minutes over the previous two calendar years with solely 9 begins, and he has stuffed holes all over the place from left attacking midfielder to proper again. His sensible 2020-21 season — 2,699 minutes in all competitions as a 17- and 18-year-old, seven objectives (fourth on the crew), six assists (fifth), 103 one-on-ones (second), 63 fouls suffered (second) — is fairly far within the rearview mirror.
Greater than anybody else within the U.S. participant pool, Reyna merely wants a set function and enjoying time. It is exhausting to think about that coming with Borussia Dortmund. If he would think about MLS an possibility, which I doubt, he probably may discover a good spot as a central attacking midfielder — my very own learn on his greatest function — with New York City FC (the place 38-year outdated Maxi Morález is logging main minutes) or, maybe, different 4-2-3-1 groups comparable to Houston (the place he may crew with Jack McGlynn) or Real Salt Lake (with Diego Luna). However one of the best match may very well be within the Bundesliga, the place Gerardo Seoane’s Borussia Monchengladbach operates from a 4-2-3-1 and provides loads of central attacking midfielder minutes to 32-year-old Alassane Pléa, whose contract expires in 2026 and who may transfer this summer time.
If Reyna is wholesome, it would not be exhausting to ascertain him pairing nicely with the industrious Rocco Reitz in midfield. Actually, although, one of the best match is any crew that may play him quite a bit. Hopefully he finds one.
Present crew: AC Milan
One of the necessary gamers through the USMNT’s stable 2022 World Cup exhibiting, Musah finds himself in a state of affairs fairly just like that of Weah and Reyna: He is a person with abilities and no outlined place. Musah is a high-level dribbler and hard-working defender and like Weah, is likely to be greatest tucked into the precise midfield. However Musah has hung out in loads of positions, together with proper winger. He is not a proper winger. His one-on-ones chart mainly reveals that he’ll tackle anybody, wherever, and that he is a person and not using a set spot.
Like Reyna, Musah remains to be solely 22 years outdated, and he is actually good at what he is good at — particularly dribbling and drawing contact. New Milan supervisor Max Allegri may discover him helpful at proper wing again or — due to Tijjani Reijnders‘ departure — within the second defensive midfield spot in a 3-5-2. If we’re desirous about what may translate nicely to enjoying time in Pochettino’s system, defensive midfielder expertise could be helpful.
Allegri has proved allergic to enjoying youthful guys at occasions, and the factor I am going to name the Switch Industrial Advanced has linked Musah to Forest and Napoli in latest weeks. We’ll see. However staying in Milan may not be the worst factor on this planet.
Present crew: Real Salt Lake
Apart from possibly goalkeeper Matt Freese, no participant improved his nationwide crew inventory greater than Luna this summer time. The 21-year-old has eight objectives and 4 assists halfway via the MLS season after going for eight and 10, respectively, final season, and he made probably the most of Christian Pulisic’s nationwide crew absence. In six Gold Cup matches, Luna completed first on the U.S. crew in objectives (three) and tied for second in pictures on purpose (5) and assists (two). Till he seemingly ran out of gasoline a bit towards Mexico, he put in stable urgent work all through the match, as nicely.
Summer time match success virtually all the time produces a run of switch rumors, because it has for Luna. He has been linked to some European groups. Who would not want a burly, hard-working and opportunistic attacker to your bench, on the very least? Most notably amongst them is LaLiga’s Celta Vigo. As with Patrick Agyemang, Luna clearly would not have to go away MLS to get on Pochettino’s radar. However Celta Vigo could be intriguing: They have been the fifth-best attacking crew within the league final season, and they’re rebuilding their assault after the lack of ahead Jørgen Strand Larsen and winger Fernando López to Wolves. Celta Vigo simply added a pleasant string-puller in Club Brugge‘s Ferran Jutglà too.
That is likely to be a superb membership to pursue. However although Actual Salt Lake sort of stink this season, Luna has a superb factor going and would not want to go away simply to get the nationwide crew supervisor’s consideration.
Present crew: PSV Eindhoven
You must take a piecemeal strategy to constructing a statistical profile for Pepi. Over the previous two seasons, he has produced sensible scoring stats on a dominant crew in an attacker-friendly league. He performed 1,486 minutes in all competitions over two campaigns with PSV however solely began in eight of his 62 appearances. Attacker stats are sometimes friendlier whenever you’re making shorter substitute appearances.
We have undoubtedly discovered that Pepi can contribute nice issues in an ideal surroundings, as 22 objectives and 6 assists in 16.5 90s (aka the equal of 16.5 full matches) is excellent work in any surroundings; and it must be accepted that wherever exterior of PSV, his scoring stats will drop. However at totally different stops, he has proved various things. In the meantime, at FC Augsburg, in an excessive an excessive amount of, too quickly transfer (he had simply turned 18), he scored zero objectives in 583 minutes however pressed like loopy and created 1.1 possibilities per 90 minutes.
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Robson: The USMNT will battle on the World Cup
Stewart Robson believes the USMNT may battle at subsequent 12 months’s World Cup after their poor efficiency within the Gold Cup last.
The rumor mill has linked Pepi with a Fulham transfer, amongst others. However with Malik Tillman leaving PSV, Luuk de Jong out of contract and Pepi getting back from meniscus surgical procedure, one of the best play for Pepi is likely to be to work his manner again to full power on this forward-friendly surroundings. He may have an even bigger function on a Champions League crew, and if he has a superb season, he’ll enter free company whereas enjoying a job on a World Cup crew. There are worse conditions than that.
Present crew: Venezia
Busio has loads of miles on his 23-year-old legs. He broke via with Sporting Kansas City at age 16, and between Sporting and Venezia, he already has recorded greater than 12,000 minutes of motion. Taking part in defensive midfield for Venezia in Serie A this previous season, he contributed to only about each line within the stat sheet: He was second on the crew in fouls suffered; third in touches, progressive carries, progressive passes, possibilities created and ball recoveries; fourth in objectives and go makes an attempt; and fifth in defensive interventions. He’s proving sturdy and bodily regardless of a 5-foot-7, 143-pound body.
All in all, Busio has the Tor-Kristian Karlsen seal of approval.
Venezia have been relegated once more in 2024-25, nevertheless, and now that he has proved himself on the Serie A degree, a transfer is anticipated. Rumors hyperlink him to Udinese, and that is most likely about proper: He may not be prepared for a top-level crew but, however he may very well be a robust function participant for a midtable membership. The U.S. is loaded with fascinating choices at defensive midfield, the place Tyler Adams, new Atlético Madrid addition Johnny Cardoso and Lyon‘s Tanner Tessmann all lurk (and the place Musah may get extra membership minutes). However so long as Busio stays on a top-division squad, he’ll stay a stable possibility.
Present crew: Orlando City
So far as prospects go, Freeman is likely to be probably the most fascinating within the U.S. participant pool. The 6-foot-2 son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman has loved a breakout 12 months at age 20. He debuted as an Orlando Metropolis starter and regarded adequate to not solely get a USMNT summer time call-up, but additionally begin each Gold Cup match at proper again. He has contributed fairly a bit to the Orlando assault with 4 objectives and two assists from 31 possibilities created. However whereas he did not do loads of that with the nationwide crew, he nonetheless had a ton of touches and defensive interventions (third in each classes).
Granted, he additionally performed the scorer onside for Mexico’s profitable purpose within the Gold Cup last, and he was simply overwhelmed in assault on a promising late scoring likelihood. His rawness is apparent. However he is completely tantalizing, as evidenced by his present scouting report chart at FBref.
The rumor mill hasn’t but blown his identify round as a lot as Agyemang’s or Luna’s. There was speak of a Parma provide and issues of that nature, however Freeman transferring on after lower than one full season as knowledgeable starter may seem to be a bit an excessive amount of, too quickly. Nonetheless, he got here from out of nowhere and shortly superior up the U.S. depth chart. He virtually actually goes to be on the middle of many rumors this time subsequent 12 months.