Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls)

Juan Agudelo Joins Liverpool to Stay Fit During MLS Offseason and Gain Top-Level Exposure

by Marcus Kwesi O'Mard
on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 8:10PM

Juan Agudelo is heading to Liverpool FC for offseason training. The USA and New York Red Bulls striker broke the news on Twitter Wednesday.

Agudelo will fly to England Thursday and head to Liverpool's Melwood practice facility shortly thereafter. The Colombian-born forward boasts good is a quick, technical and creative player with an eye for goal. He is also inexperienced, having played just one full season of professional soccer.

The 19-year-old is the first-ever graduate of the Red Bulls' academy to appear for its first team. He burst onto the U.S. soccer scene in Nov. 2010, when he scored against South Africa in his debut for the U.S. men's national team.

Former USA manager Bob Bradley called Agudelo into the team after he made just two appearances for New York. He scored against Argentina in a March friendly and he would go on to become a USA regular for much of 2011.

However, the talented Agudelo struggled to hold a place in the Red Bulls starting 11 during the 2011 MLS season. Thierry Henry and Luke Rodgers kept him on the bench toward the end of the season and he lost his place in the national team in recent months. He's earned 15 caps and scored two goals at this early stage of his international career.

The highly-rated teenage forward is one of many MLS stars that have joined European clubs for training spells during the lengthy MLS offseason. U.S. men's national team manager Jürgen Klinsmann encourages American players to link up with European clubs and even facilitated similar moves for a certain players.

The Liverpool move is neither a loan, nor is it an official trial. If he impresses at Liverpool bosses enough for them to want him at the club permanently, they would need to negotiate a transfer fee with Major League Soccer and the Red Bulls.

http://www.nesn.com/2011/11/juan-agudelo-joins-liverpool-for-offseason-training-stint-to-maintain-fitness-and-top-level-exposure.html

Seem him play a few times.
He is quick, direct and has that youthful confidence to take people on and have a dig.
Is very raw but could be good.
A bit of a punt if we went for him but for the right price maybe worth the chance.

He got potential but could use a season or two back in the MLS

Also Toronto FC keeper Stephen Frei is training with the club as it seems to be a trend