By Daniel Finton (Deputy Editor)
What up, pimps? Welcome to the 15th edition of the Finton’s Frolic right opinion zone. Here in the race-war-torn USA it is the 4th of July. The 4th is a holiday where us Americans blow off fireworks, torturing our more conservative neighbors until the ass crack of dawn, get really drunk on mediocre American beer and of course feel like death on the 5th of July. In fact, I do not remember my last three holidays in all honesty. But anyways, seeing as it is an American holiday, and in four days from today the MLS is returning, I figured I would write a piece about three cost effective signings from the American top flight. So, here they are. Ike Opara
Ike Opara is undoubtedly one of the most highly thought of central defenders in the MLS. Despite the 31-year-old only having one US cap, the defender now registered to Minnesota United is highly respected and his skills would suit Arsenal really well. Opara won the defender of the year accolade in 2019 and two-years ago in 2017 he picked up the award as well. The 6'2 American has never played for a side outside of the states and frankly, given his skill set, that is quite baffling. While 31 years of age may seem quite old to get his metaphoric baptisation to the European game, Transfermarkt estimates his value at a mere £1 million. This low-risk, highly experienced player would add some much needed grit into the Arsenal dressing room, and depth in this area that lacks quality. Walker Zimmerman
Yet another American central defender who is highly rated and respected in the division is that of Nashville SC’s Walker Zimmerman. The mobile 6 '3 defender was just traded to the new MLS side from Bob Bradley’s LAFC. The 27-year-old is seen as one of the most important defensive players the United States has at their disposal and he is so stable and defensively assured that Nashville are said to be building their platform on and around the Georgia born defender. Though Zimmerman's may cost a tad bit more than Opara, the fee is still nowhere near what fans of the European game are used to. A figure around £5 million would be enough to lure the American defender away from the Tennessee based club. Jhegson (Seba) Mendez
It wouldn’t be a Finton’s Frolic without some trademark Daniel biasedness. Seba Mendez is the defensive midfielder for Orlando city. The 23-year-old Ecuadorian could provide some competition to Lucas Torreira with his trademark, South American industry, and his individual tenacity. According to many, including that of the Mane land, a top class blog site for the club, the Ecuadorian is the key to a fruitful future for the central Floridian side. The 14 time capped Mendez has bags of potential and Arsenal would be intelligent to keep their eye on him. Given how under the radar he is, Tranfermarkt assumes his cost would be under £1 million and the gunners could bag the Ecuadorian for just £500,000. While some of the quality may be questionable in MLS, there is an ever vast abundance of quality in the division. And given the massive gulf in finances between Europe and the American top flight, players can be poached on the cheap. When Newcastle United signed Miguel Almiron, who has been fantastic with Steve Bruce’s side, they paid an astronomical, and unprecedented, £20 million for the attacker. That is the highest fee for any MLS player ever, and in truth, he is one of the best players I have ever seen grace the division. Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope all my American home boys and girls out there have a good 4th of July. If you do not hear from me it is either because I’ve gotten alcohol poisoning, blown myself up with the $100 of fireworks my missus bought, or am too enthralled in both the Premier league and MLS to talk to anyone. Anyways, I plan on trying my hardest to complete all the aforementioned things so with that I bid thee to most American Southern-twanged, toodloo…!
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