Aug 02
Michael Bradley to Hamburg?
With the sale of Rafael Van Der Vaart, Hamburg has made way for the potential signing of Michael Bradley. Hamburg manager, Martin Jol, has been waiting to sell Van Der Vaart before a move could be made for Bradley or any other central midfielder. Jol didn’t have the necessary funds to go after Bradley before Van Der Vaart’s sale, but looks set to rekindle his interest in Bradley.
There is one potential hiccup that could prevent Bradley from moving. The Bundesliga season starts on August 16, a date that might not only interfere with the Olympics, but also might interfere with the World Cup qualifier scheduled against Guatemala on August 20th. Jol might want to find his replacement for Van Der Vaart prior to the season, something that could derail any potential transfer of Bradley.
Is a transfer to Hamburg possible? I’d say it certainly is as long as Jol is willing to wait. However, I tend to think that Jol isn’t interested in waiting considering he would have just over a week to sign Bradley after the World Cup qualifier on the 20th. Any snag would see Jol without a new central midfielder, something that would not please the Hamburg board.
Another issue is the potential transfer fee. We know Monaco have offered roughly $13 million for Bradley, and other clubs have been reluctant to go near that number. Unless the price tag comes down, I don’t see Hamburg shelling out that kind of money for Bradley.
Do you think Bradley would fit well at Hamburg? Do you think this transfer will go through? What is Bradley really worth? Your thoughts below.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
I think Bradley is worth about 7 million and his price is inflated right now because Monaco really want to boost their image with Americans and because young Americans on the rise are expensive right now.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 am
i agree, i think that Monaco are trying to price everybody out, but i don’t think Bradley wants to go there so it will come down. Heerenveen is certainly not going to keep him and i bet he’ll move to either england or germany.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
What makes you think he doesn’t want to go to Monaco?
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
there are a few things. Monaco has put in offers to Heerenveen that are so big, none of us think he’s worth it and nothing has happened. I know Heerenveen would accept $13 mil, but Bradley still hasn’t joined Monaco. Also, who wants to play in front of 6,000 fans everyday, it’s worse than MLS? It’s no fun. Also, he’s stated before that he wants a move to england, but wouldn’t mind if he moved to germany, so those are my reasons. He might still end up at Monaco despite what I think, but I believe that’s unlikely.
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Go to Alemania! Monaco is owned by a Yank (congrats), but stock piling Yanks with Yanks is a bad strategy. Get our boys with other talent…our own, not so good.
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Totally agreed, Germany suits his playing style much better and he can probably start on a top five team. Eg. Leverkusen or hamburg
August 4th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Do you have a source for this rumor?
August 4th, 2008 at 10:18 am
reports in the german press