Aston Villa Pull Out of Gary Cahill Transfer With Move for Chelsea Outcast Deemed Too Expensive

© James Williamson - AMA/GettyImages Chelsea v PAOK - UEFA Europa League - Group L

​Aston Villa have pulled out of a sensational deal to re-sign Gary Cahill because a potential move for the Chelsea defender has proved too expensive.

Chelsea's club captain came through the youth academy at Villa Park prior to establishing a distinguished career in the Premier League with Bolton and Chelsea, where he has gone on to win two league titles and a Champions League among other honours at Stamford Bridge.

Cahill was named skipper at the club following the departure of John Terry to ​Aston Villa in 2017 but has since fallen out of favour under new head coach Maurizio Sarri. However, it seems that the 33-year-old will not follow Terry to Villa, according to the ​Telegraph.

Talks are said to have been held between the two clubs but the report suggests that any potential deal to reunite Cahill with assistant coach Terry at Villa Park has proved to be too expensive for the Championship club to pull off in the January transfer window.

​Chelsea are apparently prepared to facilitate Cahill's departure from west London next month with the Blues preferring to sell the defender on a permanent basis, though they would apparently be open to a loan deal in which any suitor would cover his wages in full.

That is said to be a sticking point for Villa, with the Chelsea star said to be earning around £110,000 a week at Stamford Bridge - a salary that the Championship side would not be able to match.

Villa have apparently made the signing of a new centre back a priority ahead of next month's transfer window, with Cahill featuring high on Dean Smith's list of potential targets.

However, it is said that Smith will now turn his attentions to other targets, with even a six-month loan deal likely to cost Villa up to £4m taking into account Cahill's wage demands and a potential loan fee to seal the deal.

The report suggests that Cahill would prefer to remain in the Premier League rather than drop down to the Championship and a temporary loan move would enable the defender to assess his options when he becomes a free agent in the summer.

It is said that Villa may revisit their move for Cahill towards the end of next month should the defender fail to complete a move elsewhere in January.

Villa could stand a better chance of re-signing their former star following the expiry of his Chelsea contract at the end of the season.

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Sam Coffey To Transfer from Boston College Women’s Soccer Program to Penn State

© bceagles.com, Jon Quackenbos

Another wrinkle in the Boston College women's soccer off-season has appeared. Star forward Sam Coffey announced her intention to transfer from BC via her personal Twitter page. Coffey will transfer to Penn State.

Coffey was an integral part of the Eagles' 2018 campaign. Coffey led the Eagles in both goals and assists (12 and 14 respectively).

The news of Coffey's departure comes on the heels of the Boston College Athletic Department announcing the resignation of longtime women's soccer coach Alison Foley on Dec. 10.

Coffey's departure will undoubtedly be noticeable for the Eagles who will start the 2019 season without both their coach and leading scorer from the previous season.

We will report any updates we hear and are able to verify.

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Official: Orlando City SC transfer Yoshi Yotun to Cruz Azul

December 27, 20182:06PM EST

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Transfer

Orlando City SC have transferred midfielder Yoshi Yotun to Liga MX's Cruz Azul, the club announced Thursday. The Lions didn't release a transfer figure, though ProSoccerUSA's Jordan Culver reports the deal is worth $4 million.

Yotun, 28, was signed in August, 2017 as a Designated Player from Swedish side Malmo. He had five goals and 14 assists from central midfield in 32 appearances, interrupted by starring for Peru at the 2018 World Cup. 

NEWS: Orlando City SC Agrees To Transfer Midfielder Yoshimar Yotún.

📰 https://t.co/uUkzG0U9Jp#OCSC

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) December 27, 2018

"Yoshi has been an important player for this club; however, he expressed interest in Cruz Azul at the conclusion of the season. We worked closely with him and his agent to keep him in Orlando, including offering new contract options," Lions EVP of soccer operations Luiz Muzzi said in a media release. "Ultimately, the player had his mind set on a move to Mexico, and we reached the best possible outcome for both him and the club. We thank Yoshi for his time with Orlando City and wish him the best of luck in the future."

Yotun was a member of the 2018 MLS All-Star roster. 

*/ ]]> Transfer Tracker Status:  */ ]]>

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Steffen wins USMNT award; Speaks on Man City transfer

Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen has been named U.S. Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year.

The longtime Columbus Crew backstop, who will be with the club until summer, was the 2018 Major League Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year.

[ MORE: Zlatan a new DP with Galaxy ]

For country, Steffen earned his first six USMNT caps. One of those was a stunning performance in a 1-1 draw against France.

Steffen, 23, says he's honored to be among the list of award winners in USMNT history.

He also talked about his upcoming move to Man City, via USSoccer.com:

"They're a top-five team in the world – if not the best right now. I'm well aware of how good Ederson is, and I know I need to grow and get better in a lot of different areas. But my mentality is that when I get over there, I want to play. I'm really highly motivated to get the most out of these next six months in Columbus, and hopefully with the national team. I'm going to really push myself so that when I get to Manchester next summer, I'm that much more confident and prepared."

Alex Mendez won the Young Male Player of the Award award, and like Steffen he'll leave the U.S. for a new club in 2019.

The LA Galaxy product, 18, scored a goal with three assists for LA Galaxy II in the USL this season, and will join Freiburg — Steffen's former club — in January.

Mendez will star for the U.S. U-20s at the World Cup in Poland this summer after appearing in 13 matches for the team this year.

U.S. Soccer provided this list of previous award winners.

Year Male Player of the Year Young Male Player of the Year 2018 Zack Steffen Alex Mendez 2017 Christian Pulisic Josh Sargent 2016 Jozy Altidore (2) Christian Pulisic 2015 Michael Bradley Matt Miazga 2014 Tim Howard (2) DeAndre Yedlin 2013 Jozy Altidore Wil Trapp 2012 Clint Dempsey (3) Rubio Rubin 2011 Clint Dempsey (2) Brek Shea 2010 Landon Donovan (4) Gale Agbossoumonde 2009 Landon Donovan (3) Luis Gil 2008 Tim Howard Sacha Kljestan 2007 Clint Dempsey Michael Bradley 2006 Oguchi Onyewu Jozy Altidore 2005 K asey Keller (3) Benny Feilhaber 2004 Landon Donovan (2) Eddie Johnson 2003 Landon Donovan Freddy Adu 2002 Brad Friedel Bobby Convey 2001 Earnie Stewart DaMarcus Beasley 2000 Chris Armas Landon Donovan 1999 Kasey Keller (2) Ben Olsen 1998 Cobi Jones Josh Wolff 1997 Kasey Keller – 1996 Eric Wynalda – 1995 Alexi Lalas – 1994 Marcelo Balboa (2) – 1993 Thomas Dooley – 1992 Marcelo Balboa – 1991 Hugo Perez – 1990 Tab Ramos – 1989 Mike Windischmann – 1988 Peter Vermes – 1987 Brent Goulet – 1986 Paul Caligiuri – 1985 Perry Van der Beck – 1984 Rick Davis –

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Women’s Soccer Star Sam Coffey to Transfer to Penn State

Just nine days after Boston College women's soccer head coach Alison Foley resigned as the winningest coach in school history, the program was dealt another monumental blow.

On Tuesday afternoon, sophomore forward and ACC Midfielder of the Year Sam Coffey announced via Twitter that she would be transferring to Penn State to finish out her career with the Nittany Lions.

"To my Boston College family: thank you for two unforgettable years. I'll always be an Eagle," Coffey wrote. "With God guiding my way, I can't wait to start the next chapter of my life at Penn State!"

Penn State followed with a press release, announcing Coffey would arrive in State College, Penn., with two years of eligibility.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sam to our Penn State women's soccer family," Nittany Lions head coach Erica Dambach told GoPSUSports.com. "She has a tremendous work ethic and, through her two years at Boston College, she has already established herself as one of the best players in the country. We're looking forward to adding her to our already talented roster for the 2019 season."

Coffey enjoyed an unforgettable run with the Eagles, piling up 58 points in two seasons—17 goals and 24 assists. A Hermann Trophy semifinalist this season, Coffey led the conference in scoring, points per game, and goals per game. She's one of just four players in BC history to be named a semifinalist, joining the elite company of Kristie Mewis, Kelly Henderson, and Laura Georges.

While the Eagles are coming off an impressive year that culminated in a NCAA Tournament appearance, Penn State remains a step up. The Nittany Lions are three years removed from a national title and finished the 2018 campaign with a loss to eventual champion Florida State in the NCAA quarterfinals.

Coffey's move will send waves through the roster. Her role in guiding BC to a 14-win season could not be exaggerated, and the Eagles now face the difficult task of adjusting to life without her and their leader in Foley. It's been an eventful two-week run for the program, which has gone from boasting unbounded optimism for another strong year in 2019 to staring down a plethora of question marks.

Featured Image by Kaitlin Meeks / Heights Editor

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