FC Dallas to keep their man

In a shocking turn of events, Kenny Cooper will stay with FC Dallas and refuse offers to join either Cardiff City or ROsenborg, according to an official press release by Major League Soccer.

Cooper, 23, reportedly was planning to visit both teams in order to make a decision, but Dallas, meanwhile, was pressuring the league to decline the £2,000,000 bids made by each club.

"We received offers from multiple international clubs for Kenny Cooper during this transfer window," said FC Dallas general manager Michael Hitchcock's statement read, "but we elected to decline them all. The international interest is a credit to Kenny, FC Dallas and the ever increasing talent level in Major League Soccer."

The club's refusal to deal Cooper is reminiscent of how New England blocked Taylor Twellman's move to England at the beginning of the season. It is unclear at this point, however, whether Cooper was eager to leave Dallas or not.

The Dallas Morning News quoted Cooper's father, Kenny Sr., who was a goalkeeper in England and with the NASL, as saying that he respected Dallas' decision, but he added a caveat that suggested that Cooper might be less than happy about it.

"It was a massive opportunity for Kenny with the possibility to play against the best teams in the world and a lucrative offer that could have set him for life."

Flying the Coop, but to where?

Both Cardiff City and Rosenborg have tendered offers to MLS for the services of FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper, but it appears that the Rosenborg's's UEFA Cup bid has Coop leaning toward Norway.

According to reports, Cooper will travel to Norway and Wales to discuss the details of each off before making a decision, but many pundits are guessing that Rosenborg is the more attractive offer for the American up-and-comer.

Cardiff City plays in The Championship division of England and were runners-up in the 2007-08 FA Cup, just missing a UEFA Cup spot by virtue of their 1-0 loss to Portsmouth in the final.

Rosenborg qualified for the UEFA Cup by winning their third round matches in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. They qualified for the Intertoto Cup by finishing fifth in the Norwegian Premier League. It's all very confusing, but the bottom line is that if Cooper plays in Norway he will have the opportunity to play on a larger stage (albeit for a short time only) than in Cardiff.