Crew Manager Robert Warzycha and Technical Director Brian Bliss are currently in England searching for their midfield backbone, reportedly working on a deal for a EPL backup midfielder. Yet no one, surprisingly not even The Sun or another English rag has found out yet who the Crew are exactly looking for. However, some today have said it is likely Manchester City's injury-riddled Michael Johnson.
Although a player of Michael Johnson's caliber (37 caps, 2 goals for Manchester City) would be a more attractive option in our midfield than a speculated Maloury Martin (0 caps, 0 goals at Blackpool) or another player at a similiar level; I find it unlikely that Johnson is a Crew target on loan despite what MLS-Rumors or others have speculated.
The 22 year old, coming off of 13 months away from Manchester City with knee problems, played a reserve game last week and had this to say to Manchester City News:
"Without saying too much, it's better for me to go and get games now. Ideally, that would mean going out somewhere for the rest of the season. If I'm going to get match-fit that would be the better option for me."
Now it's unlikely that Manchester City would see a loan move to the Columbus Crew as beneficial for a player such as Michael Johnson. They're likely to want to keep him close, in the English leagues. In fact, both EPL club Wolverhampton Wolves and Championship side Leeds United have said they are lining up loan offers for Johnson. The Crew cannot likely compete with those clubs.
Further, Bliss stated that "the player has six months left on his contract and the EPL club might do him a favor and let him go early." Doesn't sound like a loan move to me.
File this under unlikely, I still think it will be a Maloury Martin. Someone who was a project for an EPL side, but the EPL side has decided that the project is unlikely to pay dividends. Only sort of player from the EPL that the Crew can likely afford.
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