The Chicago Fire have always known there was a chance sometime US international goalkeeper Sean Johnson could leave the club. And if he does, they will be prepared.
On a weekly conference call with the media on Monday, Fire head coach Frank Yallop indicated that, while he's not actively pursuing a sale for the young keeper, he knows it's a possibility that Johnson makes a move abroad at some point. In fact, there appears to be interest from at least one unidentified party.
“We talked in preseason, and at the end of the [2014] season, that he'd love to play in the Premier League,” Yallop told reporters. “Maybe not right away, but in the end he wouldn't mind trying to do that if he's good enough, and someone sees him to be good enough.
“It's up to someone else to come to us with a bid,” Yallop later added. “Nobody's done that as of yet, and I'm not really out there trying to sell him. If something comes along then we'll deal with it, if not, we'll just get on with what we're doing.”
A move abroad, if it does happen, would likely involve a transfer fee for the Fire, who in 2014 re-signed Johnson to a new multi-year contract. Veteran goalkeeper Jon Busch, who returned to the Fire during the offseason, would then likely serve as the club's No. 1 option in between the pipes.
“We like Jon. We picked him up because Frank worked with him before (and) I've known him for years,” technical director Brian Bliss told reporters. “I don't think we miss a beat when Sean's out and when Jon's got to play, and vice versa. ... If per chance Sean found something this summer or the end of the season, we don't want to stand in his way, and he knows that. We've got to prepare that Sean might leave.”
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Johnson, who was chosen 51st overall (4th round) in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, is no stranger to England. He has had training stints with various Premier League clubs over the past several offseasons.
Getting a work permit might not be easy, however. Still, Johnson could move across the pond sooner rather than later.
“He's been over two or three straight years to England in training stints with some clubs,” said Bliss. “I think he's done ok. Being a goalkeeper he's got that going for him. He might have to change his sights a little bit and start thinking about Germany or Holland or Belgium, one of those leagues as a springboard elsewhere.”
