BREMEN, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Zlatko Junuzovic of Bremen shouts during the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig at Weserstadion on April 15, 2018 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Star Bundesliga midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic will be available in the summer, and the Austrian international could become the next big signing in MLS

Another MLS transfer rumor has picked up some serious steam, and might just be coming to fruition in the near future. On Monday, Bundesliga side Werder Bremen confirmed that star midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic will be leaving the club at the end of the European season.

The player had been linked to a move stateside in the past, and now it seems like a serious possibility that the deal could come together. If the league can get it done, signing a player like Zlatko Junuzovic would be a big deal for MLS.

The midfielder has been a leader for Bremen throughout his time at the club, and was the team’s captain for this season. He has been the best player at Weder for a couple of seasons now, and has helped guide the team toward the upper ends of the Bundesliga league table year after year.

During this time, he has become one of the more underrated center mids in the German league. His best season came in 2014/15, scoring 6 goals and dishing out 13 assists, which was third highest in the division that year. However, his impact is greater than the stats show on paper.

Zlatko Junuzovic is a brilliant dribbler who can carry the ball all over the pitch, and beat any defender one on one. This ability lead to him having a viral moment of his own a couple of seasons ago, nutmegging the same defender three times in a matter of seconds. He can create space in an instant, breaking down backlines and opening up the field for his teammates.

He also has the technical ability to get the job done in the final third. Zlatko is a clever passer of the ball, having the vision to find the open man anywhere on the field, and the capability to pick him out with any kind of pass. He can finish chances as well, and has some scored some screamers from distance during his career. Junuzovic is also one of the better free kick takers on the planet, and can convert from any angle or distance.

Want your voice heard? Join the MLS Multiplex team! Write for us!

His talent did not go completely unnoticed, as Junuzovic became a crucial part of the Austrian national team setup. He started his international career at the youth level, and was a part of the Austria team that finished 4th in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

He became a part of the senior team soon after, and was a starter throughout World Cup and Euro qualifying campaigns. He ended up scoring seven goals during his time, but retired from international duty in 2017 after Austria were unable to qualify for the World Cup.

In terms of what teams in MLS could bring in the former Austrian international, there are a few feasible possibilities. The most prominent club in the papers have been the Chicago Fire, who might be the most likely destination. The team has been searching for an attacking midfielder since Blanco left, and have the money and DP slot available to bring him to the Windy City.

Another club reported to be after the player is Orlando City, who are in great form, and could become a powerhouse if they are able to sign Junuzovic. Another option could be DC United, who have been rumored to be signing two designated players in the summer to help usher in a new era with their new stadium.

Zlatko is far from over the hill, and would not be like some players in the past who treated MLS as a retirement league. He is still only 30, and won’t celebrate his next birthday until the end of September. As he has retired from international duty, and won’t have to fly to Europe and back every international break, he will have extra time to rest and recover during the MLS season.

Junuzovic might be only be able to come to the league in the summer, but his signing could change the course of the current MLS season.