Birnbaum to Europe?
The European interest in D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum is well-documented and ultimately did not lead to a summer move. It made little sense for United to move Birnbaum until after the season, when they received the maximum compensation in the transfer fee – a rule that might keep Cyle Larin in Orlando for at least one more full season. That hasn’t slowed the interest in the U.S. national team defender, however.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is prepared to make another run at Birnbaum in the January transfer window, according to a source, and
teams in Germany –
including Werder Bremen, which recruited Jordan Morris and has American forward Aron Jóhannsson on the roster –
have also expressed interest in adding Birnbaum when the window opens.
Birnbaum, who will turn 26 in January, has 22 starts this season with three goals and two assists and has worked his way into the U.S. national team rotation. United, though, does have some options at the position if the club choose to sell the defender, including Kofi Opare and homegrown Jalen Robinson.