Doing the right thing in Donovan dilemma

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Depending on how you look at it and who you are, Landon Donovan's spectacular loan move to Everton has been a dream come true, a poisoned chalice, a blessing in disguise and a winning lottery ticket.

Don't laugh now, but the man derided for too long by so many frustrated fans of American soccer as being weak of heart and short of character is tearing up the English Premier League, and checkbooks are going to be waved in the direction of both him and Major League Soccer.

Barely a day goes by without Donovan and Everton being quizzed about a permanent deal from the Los Angeles Galaxy, but things are not so simple. Let's take a look at the Donovan dilemma, analyzing who should do what – and why.

Landon Donovan

He has loved every minute of his stint in England and has finally silenced the critics who insisted he would falter in the EPL. The pace and physicality of the English game have not caused him any serious problems and he has flourished in the high-pressure environment on Merseyside.

The terms of his loan deal state Donovan must return to the Galaxy in March – after 10 weeks. He needs to make it clear to both Los Angeles and MLS that he sees his future in Europe and wants to be sold.

In terms of performance, Donovan simply has to keep on keeping on. The tenacity of his performances has raised eyebrows and he is now constantly referred to as the best signing of the January transfer window.

For fans of U.S. soccer, long may it continue.

Everton

The way Donovan has fit in perfectly with the squad would give the club a big advantage if it came down to a fight for his services. However, don't underestimate the impact the American has had on the EPL. It is not beyond reason that a bigger and richer club could come in and bid for Donovan in the summer, especially if he shines at the World Cup.

Everton needs to secure a deal with MLS and the Galaxy now, even if such an arrangement involved Donovan returning to the United States in March before linking up with Everton again next season.

A fee in the region of $10 million to $12 million might be enough to get something put into place. A successful World Cup could drastically increase that figure.

Major League Soccer

MLS is in a tough predicament here, with the threat of seeing its best and most recognizable American player set sail counterbalanced by the prospect of some incoming cash.

Donovan is one of the league's marquee stars and it has been a source of pride to MLS that it has been able to keep him in the United States.

Those days are coming to an end and Donovan no longer needs nor wants to head back to Southern California. Furthermore, by having a player who cut his teeth in MLS perform to an outstanding level in the EPL is a positive for the U.S. league and a sign that it can produce solid talent.

The best thing MLS can do is to play a waiting game and be ready to cash in during the summer, when Donovan's stock could be at its highest.

Los Angeles Galaxy

It might not seem like it, but the Galaxy is potentially the big beneficiary in all of this.

Owners AEG can kick back and rub their hands together as their asset increases in value with every sparkling performance.

The Galaxy would not be entitled to all of the transfer money were Donovan to complete a permanent switch to England, but the club would be left with more than enough funds to go out and pay the wages of a big international star and still have some left over.

Yes, Donovan's impact on the team is significant, but it comes with a hefty salary (by MLS standards) attached to it. A big-name signing like Thierry Henry would not be a bad trade off.

Weekend Best XI

1. Get him an Advil

Ashley Cole's lurid sex life already appears to have cost him his marriage to stunning former pop queen Cheryl and now it is threatening to undermine Chelsea. According to reports in the U.K., the Stamford Bridge board is set to demand urgent talks with Cole and insist that he cleans up his act and stops appearing in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

2. Get him a beer

There are times when Cristiano Ronaldo is as annoying as it gets, but he showed a more likeable side over the weekend. After scoring the opening goal in Real Madrid's 6-2 victory over Villarreal, Ronaldo offered a show of support to the families affected by tragic mudslides in his home island of Madeira by sporting a T-shirt with a message of goodwill.

3. Get him some earplugs

Manchester United fans have learned better than to question the genius of Sir Alex Ferguson, yet there is a growing sense of frustration at Old Trafford. Six defeats this season do not exactly point to title-winning form and the latest setback, at the hands of a Landon Donovan-inspired Everton on Saturday, put United four points behind Chelsea.

4. Keep an eye on …

Barcelona's visit to Stuttgart in the Champions League this week won't get as much attention as other high-profile clashes, but it is a dangerous matchup for the Spanish side. This tie could produce some of the best soccer of the round.

5. Catch a flight to …

Milan. A sensational Champions League round of 16 looms on Wednesday, as Jose Mourinho gets ready to welcome his former Chelsea pals to his adopted city. Mourinho is still revered as a legend in the blue corner of west London, despite his acrimonious departure following a falling out with owner Roman Abramovich. History and pride will be on the line.

6. Useless and completely made-up statistic of the week

1.5 – The number of Cristiano Ronaldos you can buy for $200 million, the estimated amount of money that cash-strapped Portsmouth has spent in wages over the past three years.

7. Sad goodbye

Bobby Cox, who led Dundee to the only Scottish league championship in its history in 1962, died of cancer last week. He was 65.

8. Get ready to say hello to …

Sven-Goran Eriksson. Is Eriksson seriously going to get another chance at top-level management, despite his litany of recent failures? It would appear so, after he was invited to a meeting with the Nigeria Football Association this week with a view to their vacant head coaching job. If Nigeria goes down this ludicrous route, it deserves to fail at the World Cup.

9. Get ready to say goodbye to …

Chivas USA. Club owner Jorge Vergara has lost the right to use the Chivas trademark after a complicated legal battle in Mexico. He now faces a long and expensive fight if the MLS club is to be allowed to continue in its current guise without the need for re-branding.

10. Get excited about …

The Champions League Trophy Tour, which kicks off its American leg in Boston this week. It is a great opportunity for fans to get up close and personal with club soccer's greatest continental prize and potentially meet legends such as Eusebio, Zico and Edgar Davids.

11. Why it's good to be a soccer player

Take a look at Olalla Dominguez, the childhood sweetheart and now wife of Liverpool's Fernando Torres.