John Brooks: USA center back attracts Premier League interest - Sports Illustrated (original) (raw)

HOUSTON – U.S. center back John Brooks has had a terrific Copa América, and a source confirms that Brooks is receiving interest from multiple English Premier League teams.

Brooks just signed a new contract earlier this year with Hertha Berlin of the German Bundesliga, and he’s still just 23 years old and viewed as having a big upside. Hertha Berlin wants to hang onto Brooks, but a source close to Brooks says it is possible that a move could happen between now and the end of the summer transfer window. He's not alone in receiving big-league interest this summer, with Alejandro Bedoya also catching the eye of Bundesliga and Premier League teams.

The U.S. center back pairing of Brooks and Geoff Cameron has been key to the team’s success in this tournament, but it’s still a new development. Cameron told the Planet Futbol Podcast as recently as March that he wasn’t sure of his role in the national team, especially in his preferred central defense position. But on Monday he said that everything has changed, that he feels like he’s been given the chance to be a leader organizing a back line that hasn’t allowed a goal in the run of play this tournament.

Cameron added that limiting Lionel Messi would come down to a collective team effort of putting pressure on the ball and cutting down on his touches.

Elsewhere in Copa America news:

Osorio's Mexico status under evaluation

Juan Carlos Osorio is still the Mexico coach as of now following the brutal 7-0 loss to Chile on Saturday. The Mexican federation has said they are evaluating Osorio’s future after his first loss in charge of the team. A source close to Mexico’s FA says he thinks Osorio has a good chance to stay in his position simply because he wasn’t fired in the immediate aftermath of the Chile defeat.

Mexico has been quick to act in the past when it comes to firing a coach, as it did with Miguel Herrera right after his altercation with a journalist last July at the Gold Cup.