There's no denying that Major League Soccer has shifted in several ways in recent years, as clubs now look to find uncovered gems for cheap before they develop them into young stars - and European giants have taken notice.
The 2023 MLS Secondary Transfer Window runs from July 5 to August 2, and there are plenty of household names that have been linked with moves abroad.
From Thiago Almada to Djordje Petrovic, here five players in MLS that could get a move abroad when the summer window opens...
5. Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Fire)
Brian Gutierrez has been at the heart of the Chicago Fire midfield.
At 20-years-old, Gutierrez has made nearly 80 appearances for Fire and has reportedly drawn interest from Manchester United. Gutierrez's versatility could be helpful in Chicago's favor of earning a healthy transfer fee.
Could the Chicago academy product be on his way out of the Windy City?
4. Emanuel Reynoso (Minnesota United)
Emanuel Reynoso has been in top form for Minnesota United since his return from suspension.
Reynoso joined Minnesota in 2020 for $5m and has lived up to expectations with 47 goal involvements in 75 appearances. With the playmaker nearing his prime, the Loons will likely look to cash in on him.
3. Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution)
New England could very well be known as the goalkeeping factory in MLS, with Djordje Petrovic doing exceptionally well after Matt Turner departed for Arsenal last summer, keeping six clean sheets in 2023.
Petrovic joined the Revs as a free agent in April 2022 from Serbian outfit FK Cukaricki. Manchester United have reportedly kept tabs on the 23-year-old's situation.
It would be a brilliant piece of business if New England were to sell Petrovic for a decent fee just a year after signing him on a free transfer.
2. Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati)
Several clubs from Germany and England have kept a close eye on Brandon Vazquez's situation with Cincinnati.
Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach reportedly scouted Vazquez live during an MLS game earlier on in the campaign. The 24-year-old is coming off an 18 goal season in 2022 and has become a hot prospect on the market.
But Cincinnati are not looking to sell Vazquez given that they've already sold Brenner to Serie A's Udinese and brought in Aaron Bounpendza as his replacement amidst their excellent season.
Never say never, though.
1. Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
It seems as if it's only a matter of time before we see Atlanta United break the outgoing MLS transfer record again with Thiago Almada. The 22-year-old has surpassed expectations after joining in 2022 from Velez Sarsfield for $16m, another MLS record.
Atlanta would at least probably look for a figure close to double the amount they paid for Almada, with Premier League clubs like Manchester United and Manchester City reportedly interested. Serie A outfit Napoli, the current Scudetto Champions, are also interested but it remains to be seen if they have the cash that Atlanta wants.
It's shaping up to be a busy summer transfer window down South.
This article was originally published on 90min as Top five players that could leave MLS this summer - ranked .
