(Note: We've updated our article to reflect that Maccabi Haifa is responsible for the offer. Thanks to Ori Reich for the clarification.)

(Note: There's another update in the comments regarding other dollar figures)

Two weeks after word that Israel club Maccabi Tel Aviv was in advanced negotiations to sign D.C. United defender Steve Birnbaum, the rumors continue. Via Greg Seltzer, Maccabi Haifa is prepared to offer D.C. around a half million Euros (or $570,000 US) for the services of the 25-year old central defender. The article says that Birnbaum was not prepared to discuss such an offer until his time with the United States at the Copa America Centenario finishes after Saturday's game with Colombia. Birnbaum appeared in the last two Copa matches, a stoppage time appearance in the quarterfinals win over Ecuador and a 60th minute appearance in a 4-0 loss over Argentina. Haifa had initially been interested until Tel Aviv expressed their own interest, now Haifa appears to be ratcheting up their discussions.

If the reports are accurate, one would presume if you were Dave Kasper that such an offer seems to be an example of lowballing. It would be about as much as when D.C. sold a 30-year old Alain Rochat to BSC Young Boys in Switzerland for in 2013, after Rochat expressed disappointment at having to uproot his family after being traded by the Vancouver Whitecaps. And it would be almost twice as much as former Columbus Crew SC forward Aaron Schoenfeld cost when he was sold inside the Israeli league earlier this year. We don't live in a world where United deems Birnbaum to be priceless, but these terms for a national team defender seem underwhelming.

Regardless of the price, selling Birnbaum in this window would likely force D.C. to pursue a center back (be it a starter or capable depth behind Kofi Opare and Bobby Boswell) when the MLS secondary transfer window opens on July 4.