Steve Birnbaum reportedly wants Maccabi Tel Aviv move; D.C. United reluctant to sell

Maccabi Tel Aviv are hot on the trail of D.C. United and United States defender Steve Birnbaum. It was reported back in June that they offered $500,000 for the center back in an attempt buy him.

ESPN Basketball reporter, and part-time soccer reporter, Marc Stein, says that the Israeli club have upped their offer to $800,000 and that the USMNT defender wants to make the move, but D.C. United don't want to sell. Likely because he's their best defender and selling him for no reason makes absolutely no business sense.

Quick @MLS detour: Sources say Maccabi Tel Aviv has upped its offer to $800,000 for #USMNT D Steve Birnbaum but @dcunited refuses to sell

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 8, 2016

One source says Birnbaum wants to make the @MaccabiTLVFC move; @MLS sources say @dcunited is comfortable letting him play out his contract

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 8, 2016

Without getting into yet another "which league is better?" war, let's think about this logically. No matter what club is coming after Birnbaum, $800,000 isn't that much money in today's game. For reference, Mix Diskerud makes $750,000 a year. Why would a club who has dreams of making the playoffs and possibly winning MLS Cup sell one of their best players for that type of money?

Players have every right to want to move out of MLS and test themselves in Europe, but the league also can't roll over any time a club is looking to bargain hunt for players. There is certainly a price that will get Birnbaum to Europe, but D.C. has every right to hold out for that number, no matter how much the player wants to leave.