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It appears that the world has taken notice of John Anthony Brooks.
Grant Wahl (of Sports Illustrated) reports that the USMNT center back is a hot commodity:
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.
Bild reported that Manchester City is one of the clubs interested in 23-year old Berlin native.
However, other reports out of Germany indicate that Hertha is not interested in selling. If they were, they'd want a transfer fee of 20 million euros (or 22,586,400 dollars).
Brooks is currently on a deal that last through the 2018-2019 season, after recently signing an extension.
Brooks had an incredible Copa America and seemingly solidified a permanent spot on the back line for the national team. It's no surprise that clubs are kicking his tires, as mobile 6'4" defenders don't grow on trees.
There's a lot of benefits in staying at a club with which one has experienced success, but it's hard to turn down a move to a bigger club that will increase salary and fame. Athletes are naturally competitive and ambitious, so it's understandable if Brooks wants to move to a higher level.
(Of course, we can debate whether mid-table EPL is better than mid-table Bundesliga, but the preceding paragraph presupposes he'd be transferred to Manchester City.)
Brooks could be one of many U.S. players on the move this summer, a group that includes DeAndre Yedlin, Brad Guzan, and Alejandro Bedoya. It should be an exciting couple of months, so pay attention to the transfer rumor mill.