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The biggest Geoff Cameron story this week involves his mildly explosive profile with The New York Times. He discussed the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and laid the blame at the feet of former manager Bruce Arena. You’ve probably read it by now, but if you haven’t, here’s a link to it.
The second biggest Cameron story this week involves his failed transfer away from Stoke City. According to The Sentinel, Crystal Palace made two “serious inquiries for the American international during the final hours of the transfer window.” Palace was competing with also unsuccessful bids from Newcastle and West Ham.
Stoke dismissed the interest out of hand “without even having to consult manager Paul Lambert” because it was not interested in selling “a player of Cameron’s value, particularly his versatility, and to a potential relegation rival.”
And what a relegation battle it is shaping up to be. From Bournemouth to West Bromwich Albion, the bottom 11 teams in the Premier League are separated by a mere eight points. Stoke is a single point above the drop zone, so it’s clear why the club would be hesitant about making a move that could potentially bring about its own doom.
Cameron joined Stoke in 2012 after beginning his professional career with the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer. He’s made 181 league and cup appearances for The Potters, displaying the same positional versatility to which national team fans have become accustomed. The 32-year old Massachusetts-native recently signed a two-year extension that will run through the summer of 2020.
It’s been a difficult season for Cameron, who missed five matches while dealing with a concussion and recently suffered a minor hamstring injury. Despite the medical issues, it’s clear that he’s still highly valued by Stoke and should remain a key part of the club for the next few years.
Being that Cameron is on the wrong side of 30 and with the next potential World Cup over four years away, it’s unlikely that Cameron will get the opportunity to add to his 55 caps with the national team. However, as noted by his Times profile, he’s still worthy of fan attention and interest due to being an endangered species: one of only three Americans to have earned playing time in the Premier League this season.