There are some MLS sides that have no plan in place (hello New England Revolution) while someone like the LA Galaxy are always looking two or three steps ahead.
The Galaxy have realized that midfielder Nigel de Jong is not worthy of a Designated Player place and the player is in talks with Turkish side Galatasaray about joining before the European transfer window closes this week.
De Jong joined the Galaxy earlier this year, making 21 league and cup appearances. But his contract had him poised to become a Designated Player at the end of the campaign, taking the place of Steven Gerrard who is retiring.
According to data from the MLS Players Union, De Jong made $500,000 this season, and had he remained with the Galaxy, not only would he have received a salary increase into the multi-million dollar range, but LA would have been at the maximum number of Designated Players (three).
if that had happen, the Galaxy would have had no flexibility next season. But now the Galaxy can take a look at their squad and look to bring in another big name signing over the winter or next summer.
The move to Turkey is a good one for De Jong who will be reunited with former Netherlands international teammate Wesley Sneijder as well as manager Jan Olde Riekerink, who coached at Ajax during De Jong’s days there as a youth player.
