Four Olympians MLS should target

Major League Soccer needs to do a better job of targeting and signing young foreigners before they are discovered by the deeper pockets of Europe. Here are four Olympic soccer players that MLS could realistically target right now given the fees and salaries they command. But they need to scout and sign fast or they will be scooped up.

1. Chinedu "Edu" Obasi Ogbuke
Nationality: Nigeria
Position: Striker
Age: 22
Current club: 1899 Hoffenheim
Analysis: This talented forward was nearly picked up by Lokomotiv Moscow, but the deal fell through due to massive changes in the clubs management. Edu was the second leading scorer for the silver medalists with two goals. He also scored twice in the U-20 World Championships, and was voted Young Player of the Year in Norway. He has nine caps with the full national team.


2. Jeremy Brockie
Nationality: New Zealand
Position: Striker
Age: 20
Current club: Hawke's Bay United
Analysis: Brockie had NZ's only goal of the Olympics, but has shown great promise, with two goals for the U-20s and seven caps for the senior squad. Plus, he probably could be had for bargain-basement prices given where he currently plays. MLS have been successful recruiting Kiwis before (Ryan Nelsen for DC comes to mind). Plus, he's a character; check out the dreads.



3. Park Joo-young
Nationality: South Korea
Position: Striker/Winger
Age: 23
Current club: FC Seoul
Analysis: Another "Young Player of the Year" award-winner for the AFC, Joo-young might be difficult to acquire since he is certainly already a rising star of East Asia, but if MLS acts fast they might be able to pry him away from FC Seoul. He has been called the Korean David Beckham which I'm not sure is a complement or a put-down, but he did score one of Korea's two goals in Beijing.


4. Gervais Yao "Gervinho" Kouassi
Nationality: Cote D'Ivoire
Position: Striker
Age: 21
Current club: Le Mans
Analysis: He may be the most expensive out of the four, but he is arguably the most talented. Gervinho is being "monitored by French sides AS Monaco, Paris Saint Germain and Marseille, as well as English Premiership giants Arsenal." While they monitor, a club might be able to use him for a playoff run. He's likely not a long-term solution unless MLS can match the big bucks that are going to be thrown his way sooner rather than later, but it's worth investigating.