1.31.2008

Update: Guzan Awaits Appeal

Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan has left the US Men's National Team training camp in Carson, California, presumably to fly to England as the final details of his transfer to Aston Villa get hammered out.

The final step in the process is to go before an appeals committee in hopes of obtaining a work permit, since he doesn't meet the requirement of having played in 75% of his national team's games over the past two years. It's a relatively routine thing to see nowadays, with Eddie Johnson going through a similar hearing before his recent move to Fulham could be finalized. The thing that Johnson had on his side is something working against Guzan: time - the international transfer window closes today, meaning an up or down decision on the keeper's future must be made before the end of business today.

If approved, MLS would stand to inherit more than $4 million for selling the 23-year-old, roughly the same amount that current U.S. #1 Tim Howard was worth to Manchester United in 2003.

And again, Chivas USA has zero other goalkeepers on its current roster.

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