U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore confirmed this week that his future might not lie with Sunderland, and hinted at a possible January move away from the Stadium of Light. Speaking in advance of his national team’s upcoming match against Ecuador, the 24-year-old was fairly candid, stating, “I thought I’ve done everything I could this season to come in as fit as possible with the injury and try to make an impact when I’ve played. But like I said this four years I want to be part of the national team. Jürgen makes his message very clear, nobody is different, so if it doesn’t turn around then in January I’ll be looking to start elsewhere and make sure that I’m in his plans.” But just where might Altidore look to when contemplating greener pastures? Here are a few hypothetical destinations.
Celtic (Scottish Premier League) – Despite the absence of notable clubs like Rangers, Hearts and Hibs, the Scottish Premier League is wide open this season. Celtic, the reigning champions, are six points off first place and have looked downright poor at times this season. The addition of a physically imposing striker such as Altidore could help bolster an already talented attack. Meanwhile, the less competitive SPL (Celtic won the title last season by 25 points with a +66 goal difference) would provide an attractive destination for Altidore, as he could potentially find himself scoring regularly for a club with a massive international following.
Fiorentina (Serie A) – La Viola represent arguably the biggest (and least likely) club on this list. However, there are a few reasons why this one could happen. Sunderland maintains warm relations with Italian clubs, regularly doing business with the likes of Lazio and Inter. So, there’s already familiarity in terms of getting transfers done. Speaking of familiarity, there’s also Giuseppe Rossi. The New Jersey native is important for two reasons: he would serve as a familiar face for Altidore and, more importantly, is currently injured. Fiorentina has struggled to score this season, and will be desperately searching for an experienced striker come the winter window. Last season, the Florence-based club made a move for Manchester United’s Anderson, so Altidore looks all the better by comparison.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (English Championship) – Newly promoted to the Championship, Wolves have started the season strongly. The West Midlands club is only 2 points off first place eleven games into the season, but has struggled to find the back of the net with regularity. A move to the Championship would certainly represent a step down for Altidore. However, it would also allow him to remain in England, get consistent minutes, and prove that he can perform on English soil. In addition, with the news that fellow U.S. international Juan Agudelo will be having a trial with Wolves, we could be looking at the start of the Wolverhamerica Era.
Hamburger SV (Bundesliga) – As his career has thus far demonstrated, Altidore takes time to settle. A new league (no baggage) and a familiar face (USA teammate Julian Green) could help expedite that process in Germany. Moreover, despite boasting some prominent names, Hamburg currently sits in the relegation zone and has scored only two goals this campaign. A young striker desperate to prove himself could be just what the club needs to ignite an already disappointing season, and the thought of Raphael van der Vaart playing inch perfect balls in to Altidore must be at least slightly more appealing than playing second fiddle to Steven Fletcher.
Feyenoord (Eredivisie) – It seems a bit obvious to suggest that a return to Dutch soccer could be good for Altidore, but it’s obvious for a reason. In two seasons with AZ Alkmaar, Jozy scored 39 goals in 67 matches, and broke the record for most goals by an American in a European club season. Moreover, he became the first U.S. international to be named to De Telegraaf’s “Team of the Season” after finishing the 2012-2013 campaign with 23 league goals and 8 cup goals. Meanwhile, Feyenoord (a club that finished second in the league last season) is currently floundering in mid-table mediocrity, having scored the third fewest goals of any team in the top half of the Dutch league table. A major factor in the club’s downturn has been the loss of striker Graziano Pelle to Southampton, as the big Italian scored 50 goals in 57 appearances for the club. Could the addition of Jozy Altidore (another target forward with a proven goal-scoring ability in the Netherlands) be the push that Feyenoord needs?