ESPN: Jozy Altidore drawing European interest late in summer transfer window

Toronto FC and United States men’s national team striker Jozy Altidore is reportedly drawing interest from two of the top five leagues in Europe.

According to ESPN FC’s Jeff Carlisle, the 28-year-old has interest from Serie A and Ligue 1 with the summer transfer window set to close around the continent soon. While the windows have already closed for incoming transfers in MLS and England, Italian clubs are free to sign players until August 18 and French teams having all the way until August 25 to get deals done.

Altidore is no stranger to Europe. He left MLS as a young prospect in 2008 when La Liga club Villarreal bought him for what was at the time a league record transfer fee of around $10 million. He then bounced around Spain and England with very little success before finally landing in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar and putting up two sensational seasons. That success earned him another big money move back to England with Sunderland, but he again failed to produce and was eventually traded back to MLS in 2015.

Since returning to the league with Toronto FC, he’s led the Reds to an MLS Cup title and has notched 56 goals in all competitions during that time.

It remains to be seen just how much of a possibility this move has of happening. Clubs could be in desperation mode and with the windows closing at weird times this summer, it could cause some interesting moves. However, for Altidore, the question must be asked — Does he even want to go back to Europe?

He’s having success on the field and is beloved in Toronto (arguably more than he is in his own country). Does he have a desire to go back to Europe and grind every week for playing time when he has a comfortable situation already?

What do you think of this rumor? Would you like to see him try in Europe again? Would Ligue 1 be a good fit for his playing style? Sound off in the comments.