KANSAS CITY, Mo. – That Erik Palmer-Brown-to-Juventus deal everyone's been talking about for more than a year now?
It's looking less and less like a “maybe” and more like the next step in the young Sporting Kansas City defender's career – even if his move across the Atlantic to Italy's Serie A is still some time away.
The storied Turin side have been trying to land the 17-year-old Homegrown center back since before he made his MLS debut last season, when he became the youngest defender ever to start an MLS match. On Wednesday, during Sporting's preseason media event, Sporting CEO Robb Heineman told reporters that a deal – perhaps one that would keep Palmer-Brown in Kansas City on loan – is increasingly likely.
“We've been talking to them for the better part of a year, I suppose, but I don't know what the time line would be, exactly,” Heineman said. “I'd say it's an 80-20 thing that it'll happen. I think they're interested. I think the player's interested in going there. And I think the way that it would work out, there's probably a good likelihood we'd still retain him as a player, even if they had ownership of his card.”
Palmer-Brown responded to reporters' questions about the prospective deal as he always has – that he'll focus on the things he can control, and he loves playing for his hometown club.
“As a kid, it was a dream,” he said of the prospect of playing overseas. “But being here at Sporting Kansas City, I like to think about the present. I love being here, and I love being in my hometown. Since it was a dream growing up, it is something that I would welcome – but also, like I said, I've got to focus on what's now, and proving myself.”
Palmer-Brown made three league appearances in 2014, with two starts, and played in six matches across all competitions before undergoing season-ending surgery last October to repair a stress fracture in his right foot. On Wednesday, he said he's fully fit and ready to return to competition.
“I feel a lot better,” he said. “I switched up the boots, and my foot is feeling better than before. So it's really good to feel back to 100 percent and be out training with the guys.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
