USMNT star Sebastian Berhalter to receive transfer offers from England

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Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

USA and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter is fielding interest from England ahead of the expiration of his contract.

The 25-year-old has developed into one of the best midfielders in Major League Soccer under Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen. London-born Sebastian, the son of former USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter, was acquired for up to $100,000 in General Allocation Money in 2022.

In hindsight, that was an incredible piece of business from Vancouver, although they have arguably fumbled a sizeable payday now. Having failed to agree a new contract with him last year, the Caps are set to lose him for nothing.

Still, that should take nothing away from the fact that he has been a crucial part of the most successful era in the club's modern history. The Caps have become one of the best teams in MLS, thanks in no small part to Berhalter.

Bigger and better things seem to be beckoning now. With his contract up at the end of the year, Berhalter will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs starting from 1 July.

Berhalter on his way to England?

According to The Athletic reporter Tom Bogert, Berhalter could be heading to the country of his birth, England, this winter. Unnamed clubs from the second-tier Championship are showing a genuine interest in the 25-year-old.

"I'm told there have been a couple clubs in the Championship in England that like him and are planning on engaging or at least will be looking into what that means," Bogert said on CBS.

However, there is no guarantee that Berhalter ends up in Europe because he is also a sought-after commodity within MLS, and there are clubs that would be willing to spend a pretty penny on the USMNT star.

"The Vancouver Whitecaps want to keep him," Bogert added. "They had a contract offer on the table, and Berhalter kind of made it clear when it wasn't sorted in pre-season, 'Ok, I'm going to turn it down and be a free agent.' The Vancouver Whitecaps respect that and understand that.

"They are still going to keep trying to re-sign him. I will say, you look around MLS, he is going to have a lot of value there, too. He will get to free agency - the Whitecaps aren't going to move him this summer to another team in MLS.

"You get to free agency, teams are capped at what they can offer a player on that first free agent deal. But we've seen some teams have some interesting agreements, right?

"Miles Robinson joined FC Cincinnati in his prime, the best free agent on the market. He signed a one-year plus one deal and now, a couple years later, he is a DP [Designated Player].

"Justin Haak signs for the LA Galaxy. Young, 24 years old, coming off a career year - he signed a short-term deal. That's interesting, right? So, that could happen for Sebastian Berhalter - that the payday, if he stays in MLS, won't be this winter, but it will be in the future.

"And I will tell you, there is a lot - a lot - of interest from MLS teams in Sebastian Berhalter. But again, he is weighing up his options. It could be England, it could be whoever else."

Berhalter was born in London during his father's two-year spell at Crystal Palace. Gregg, now in charge of the Chicago Fire, also played in the Netherlands and Germany before returning to the US. His son could soon follow in his footsteps.