Summer is coming, and that means rumors. This time, it's Serie A club Fiorentina linked with an MLS raid.
According to a report at Italian outlet CalcioMercato.com, representatives of the Serie A side will be stateside in July to scout three players – Orlando City SC’s Amobi Okugo, Sporting Kansas City’s Erik Palmer-Brown and the Chicago Fire’s Michael Stephens.
For Okugo, who is in his first season with Orlando five seasons with the Philadelphia Union, the report was welcome news as the midfielder has previously expressed interest in playing in Europe.
“It's always been a goal of mine,” he told MLSsoccer.com. “But right now I'm focused on Orlando. Coming into the season there was a possibility of me going to Europe, but the situation here in Orlando is top class. I'd like to keep doing thing here, and if I do well, hopefully the rumors continue.”
Orlando general manager Paul McDonough said the club hasn't been contacted about Okugo.
“I saw the reports, but I think they are just reports,” he said. “Until someone contacts us directly, it is just speculation."
Sporting product Palmer-Brown is no stranger to being on the wish list of Italian clubs, having long been linked to powerhouse Juventus. Stephens is in his first season with his hometown club after playing under Bob Bradley at Stabaek last year.
