Image via Mikolaj Barbanell/Shutterstock
Reports have emerged today, both in Poland and America, that Mateusz Klich is close to finalising a deal that would see him join MLS outfit DC United.
This news was first reported in Sportowe Fakty by Piotr Koźmiński, who claimed that there is also interest in Klich from Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp. However, according to American reporter Tom Bogert on Twitter, a deal taking Klich to Washington is closer than one taking him to Belgium.
Klich has been largely surplus to requirements at Leeds this season under Jesse Marsch, despite the American manager claiming he is an important member of the squad. The same can be said of Klich’s place in the Poland team under Czesław Michniewicz, who elected to leave him out of the World Cup squad on the basis he had not played enough football this season. It is alleged that Klich still feels slightly let down by Michniewcz on this point and I would have to agree with that viewpoint, given other players who had not played regularly were still included in the 26 that went to Qatar.
After finding cult status at Leeds when he helped them achieve promotion to the Premier League in 2020, the now 32 year-old Klich might see a move to the MLS as a sure-fire way of getting time on the pitch under manager Wayne Rooney at DC. This would only help his opportunities to be included in the next Poland squad for the European Qualifiers, be that under Michniewicz or a new Selekcjoner, given that other MLS players such as Karol Świderski have proven moves to the US can be very beneficial in that regard.
According to the short Tweet from Bogert, Klich would not be a “designated player”; a rule introduced after David Beckham’s move to LA Galaxy in 2007. This rule allows clubs to sign up to three players outside of their salary cap. DC United currently have three designated players in Christian Benteke, Victor Palsson and Taxiarchis Fountas. This means Klich will presumably be earning significantly less than he does at Leeds, but would presumably be willing to make the move for this purported increase in game time.
Many Leeds fans will be sad to see Klich go on account of his fan favourite status, but Jesse Marsch is slowly building his own squad which has a very different look to the one composed by his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa.
For more, follow @ekstraklasaexp on Twitter and @ekstraklasaexports on Instagram to know when new posts go live.
Comments