Galaxy waiting for 'silly' offer on Donovan
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The Los Angeles Galaxy are prepared to sell United States star Landon Donovan, but only if it receives an inflated "silly money" transfer fee.
Tom Payne, the Galaxy's president of business operations, admitted to Yahoo! Sports that the Major League Soccer franchise was approached by several high-profile clubs about Donovan, who scored three goals for the USA during the World Cup.
"You always want to keep your best players," Payne said. "But the reality is that the best players in the history of the sport have been moved. Of course there are numbers so silly, for want of a better word, that we would have to look at [offers] twice."
Perhaps the only team prepared to pay those outrageous figures would be English Premier League side Manchester City, the world's richest club. Man City head coach Roberto Mancini confirmed his interest in Donovan last week, meaning the Galaxy is now in a win-win situation.
Either L.A. drives up the price and persuades Man City or another team to part with a figure approaching $20 million, or it gets to hold on to the club's best player and America's most recognizable soccer star.
Donovan is believed to be valued around $12 million. His stock rose greatly during a successful EPL loan spell with Everton at the start of this year. Interest grew even further thanks to his clutch performances for the U.S. in South Africa. Despite three failed stints in Germany during his career, Donovan has generated a fresh surge of European interest.
"We have gotten a lot of calls," Payne said. "Everton really wanted Landon back. We are confident that we are hanging on to him. We want to win championships. …
"People around the world are now getting what we've always said – that he is a great player and the best American player of all time."
If the Galaxy cash in on Donovan, it will need to replace him with a high-profile international star to fill the void of talent and marketability. Rumors linking the team with Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho fizzled after AC Milan ruled out a transfer.
Donovan scored a 90th-minute equalizer in a 2-2 tie with the San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday to send the Galaxy (12-2-4) into the All-Star break nine points clear at the top of MLS's Western Conference.
