TRANSFER TRACKER: Report

After a year-and-a-half at Norweigan club Valerenga, Pablo Maurer of The Athletic is reporting that an MLS return could be in the cards for Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Abu at D.C. United. However, no deal is yet complete.

Source close to negotiations tells me that #DCU are in indeed in talks to potentially acquire midfielder acquire Mohammed Abu - no deal done as of yet. Formerly played for the Crew several years back, was last at Vålerenga in Norway. — Pablo Maurer (@MLSist) February 24, 2020

Abu, 28, spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons with Columbus Crew SC before being transferred to Valerenga. He registered one assist in 24 appearances for the Crew under now-US men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, though was loaned to Valerenga in August 2018 after minutes proved difficult in Columbus. The move was eventually made permanent that October.

Since landing with Valerenga, Abu has logged 37 appearances across all competitions for the Norweigan top-flight side, registering two assists. His career has also included four caps for Ghana, plus a start at Manchester City after progressing through the famed Right to Dream Academy in his home country. Abu’s longest tenure in the club game arrived with Stromsgodset IF, a fellow Eliteserien outfit.

In terms of how Abu could fit into D.C.’s plans, Russell Canouse, Felipe Martins and Junior Moreno are on the roster and play in a similar deep-lying position. Looking to make a third straight trip to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, the Black-and-Red are nearing their 2020 season opener Feb. 29 (1 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada) against the Colorado Rapids.