Five potential United States signings for Swansea City after appointing Bob Bradley
Published:
Lee Gormley | October 3, 2016
Five potential United States signings for Swansea
After just nine months in charge at the Liberty Stadium, Francesco Guidolin was recently sacked as Swansea City boss and the Welsh club swiftly appointed Bob Bradley as his immediate successor.
Guidolin became the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season and his replacement will be the maiden American coach to take over at a club in the top-flight.
The 58-year-old former United States national team manager will arrive from French club Le Havre with Swansea currently 17th in the standings, and without a win since their opening day success over Burnley.
His inherited Swans are 11/5 with Coral to face a daunting relegation to the Championship come next May but, after Bradley’s arrival on Welsh soil, here are five potential United States signings for Swansea…
Michael Bradley
The son of the new Swansea boss is currently plying his trade with Toronto FC, where he has been for since 2014, following three seasons in Serie A with Chievo and Italian capital club Roma.
USA international skipper Bradley has spent time in England before, when on loan with Aston Villa in 2011, but then boss Alex McLeish refused to make the New Jersey-born midfielder’s deal permanent upon completion.
Still at 29 years of age, could Bradley be tempted into linking up with his father in Swansea? The former Borussia Monchengladbach anchorman may welcome a new challenge and, with the MLS campaign finishing before Christmas, a loan stint in Wales is always possible.
Julian Green
Bayern Munich wideman Green is one of his country’s hottest prospects, with the now 21-year-old having become the youngest player from the United States to score in a World Cup in 2014 and was recently included in Jurgen Klinsmann’s final squad for upcoming friendlies against Cuba and New Zealand.
The Bundesliga winger has featured just once under Carlo Ancelotti this current campaign and, after previous loan spells with Hamburg in the last two seasons, Green could provide the Swans with a dynamic attacking outlet under Bradley as they try to avoid dropping down divisions this term.
Christian Pulisic
Another young attacker to be included in the USA squad is Borussia Dortmund’s Pulisic, and the 18-year-old talent has previously been linked with a switch to Liverpool to join up with German coach Jurgen Klopp.
The teenage Pennsylvanian is another that would boost Swansea’s forward threat, having showcased his promising attributes so far this term, netting in a 6-0 Bundesliga win over Darmstadt and starring in a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Pulisic’s impressive outing at the Bernabeu has led to him to reportedly being tracked by the Spanish giants, while Klopp also keeps an eye on his progress from Anfield, but Swansea could benefit massively from a well-timed loan swoop in January.
Fabian Johnson
Gladbach full back Johnson would represent a great boost to Swansea’s defensive ranks and the 28-year-old is also a danger when surging forward on the flanks, proven by his performances so far this season in Germany.
The Munich-born USA international has earned over 50 caps for his chosen nation in his career and this term has managed to strike a vital late equaliser to help his club secure a 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig.
With an eye for goal going forward and strong in defence, he’s a solid alternative to present full backs Kyle Naughton and Angel Rangel, while he can also feature in a more advanced wide role.
John Brooks
Hertha Berlin currently sit second in the Bundesliga table behind champions Bayern Munich, and America centre back Brooks has had a part to play in such early season success, featuring the entire 90 minutes during wins over Freiburg and Ingolstadt.
The 23-year-old, who holds both German and American citizenship, has been with his current employers since 2012 and Bradley could be keen to sign up the towering defender to bolster a Swans backline which has leaked 12 goals in seven league outings.
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