Brek Shea: 6 Potential Transfer Moves

Brek Shea is an extremely talented American left winger who has the flexibility to play in several different positions on the pitch. Shea is the current FC Dallas 2011 MVP and has 100 appearances for the MLS club with 16 goals and 15 assists.

His best season has been his latest, where he has scored 11 goals and racked up six assists from the left wing of the FC Dallas attack.

Along with his great club form, Brek Shea has begun breaking into the US National Team setup with seven appearances, though he has yet to get on the score sheet.

Shea’s great form in this last season has led to him being linked for a transfer to almost all of the top English Premier League sides, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. In my opinion, Brek Shea would be doing himself a true disservice by moving to one of the English giants.

Why would Shea move from a team where he is a guaranteed starter and getting regular first-team football to most likely sitting on the bench and making a few cup and substitute appearances with one of the big English sides over the next couple of years?

Brek Shea is a talented promising winger but would he push Ashley Young, Theo Walcott, Stewart Downing or Samir Nasri for their starting place in any of those teams? I think not.

What Brek Shea needs is a move to a decent European side where he can get good experience and play week in and week out for a few years before he makes his push to one of the giants of English football when he is truly prepared and has some more experience under his belt.

His career should resemble Clint Dempsey's rather than that of Freddy Adu—consistent playing time and excellence over substitute appearances, loans and constant transfers.

Aston Villa

Having played in the top league in England for over 100 seasons, Aston Villa is a strong squad who, though having lost several key players, has managed to stay in the top half of the table so far this season.

• Pros: Playing for Aston Villa, Brek Shea would be able to fill the gap left in the squad by the sales of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. He would be an excellent provider down the left side and would rapidly improve and develop his game.

• Cons: The sale of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing have led to a much less creative Aston Villa side and current US players within the squad—Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj—currently struggle for playing time. We would hate to have Brek Shea sitting on the bench and stagnating his progress.

Celtic FC

Celtic FC is one of the most storied teams in the world, having won more trophies and championships than almost any other team.

Based in Glasgow, Celtic enjoys European Football each year; they have a great rivalry with Glasgow neighbors Rangers FC, a global support network and a talented young team.

• Pros: Playing with Celtic FC, Brek Shea would almost be guaranteed European Football each season and the opportunity to test himself against some of the best teams in the world, while still getting consistent playing time in the domestic league and constantly improving himself.

• Cons: The quality of the Scottish Premier League is no better than that of Major League Soccer. Other than the Old Firm of Celtic and Rangers, the Scottish Premier League is on an equal or perhaps even slightly worse level than the MLS. Brek Shea would be playing against players of the same quality he is currently playing against, though with a much more storied team.

Everton FC

 Everton FC is a solid English Premier League team with a great history, enthusiastic fans, good youth players and a first-rate manager. They're currently struggling with investment issues, but they could be a very good side.

• Pros: While Landon Donovan played at Everton FC on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy the Everton fans accepted him with open arms. Brek Shea’s work rate, personality and great technique would soon make him a fan favorite amongst the Everton fans. With Everton, Shea could quickly establish himself in the first team and expect to compete for the top eight places in the Premier League each season, as well as continue to grow and mature as a player.

• Cons: Everton is a team that suffers from a lack of finances and investment, meaning that whenever they want to purchase players to improve the team they must sell other players. A new investor is looming in the future though, and if Everton gets the investment they need, Brek Shea would be a great first signing for them.

Fulham FC

Based in London, Fulham has been the home of many American footballers and would rapidly accept Brek Shea into their squad. They're a solid mid-table team currently playing in the Europa League.

• Pros: Fulham has been the home of many successful American footballers in the English Premier League. Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra and Brian McBride have all had extremely successful spells playing for Fulham and have all developed well during their time there. Recently, Fulham has been doing well in the Europa League and Brek Shea would do well in helping Fulham continue to qualify for the Europa League and would gain great experience playing in Europe.

• Cons: Currently sitting in the bottom half of the English Premier League, Fulham does not look like they will be qualifying for the Europa League without a major improvement in form this season.

Newcastle United

A team with a great fan base and a good history of quality football, Newcastle have returned from the English Championship and after a mid-table finish last season are currently sitting very high in the league table.

• Pros: Newcastle United is a team with a great history and is currently doing very well in the English Premier League sitting near the top of the table. Under Alan Pardew, Newcastle United is a very well-organized side that is pushing for a place in either the Champions or Europa Leagues. If Brek Shea joined Newcastle United, he would be playing for one of the top teams outside of the big six in the English Premier League and would get great experience fighting against some of the best teams in the world for a place in the Europa.

• Cons: Newcastle United look strong and have several strong players on the wings, so Brek Shea would have to fight for his position, but if he continues his current form, he would be able to force his way into the starting XI fairly quickly.

Rangers FC

The second Glasgow Scottish Premier League team on this list, Rangers are one of the winningest teams in world football and consistently challenge for multiple trophies each season. Their passionate fans and great rivalry with Celtic FC make them an appealing choice.

• Pros: Like Celtic, playing for Rangers FC would almost guarantee consistent time playing in the Champions and Europa Leagues each season. He would be playing for a team with a great history that currently tops the Scottish Premier League. Also, current US National Team players Carlos Bocanegra and Alejandro Bedoya play for Rangers, so there would be a built-in support network for Brek Shea.

• Cons: The same as playing for Old Firm rival Celtic FC, while playing for Rangers FC Brek Shea would be playing in a league against players of a much lower quality than if he picked a team in the English Premier League.