DANNY WILSON and Johnny Russell have chosen to chase the American dream.

And I think a LOT of their team-mates will be keeping a close eye on how they get on in the States — with a view to trying to join them further down the line.

5 Danny Wilson joined Colorado Rapids Credit: 2018 Willie Vass

I know players have left here and gone to try their luck in the MLS before.

But this time feels different. There’s a sense that ‘soccer’ is about to take off there like never before.

This week’s announcement that David Beckham is bringing a team to Miami has raised the bar. He’s already pledged to bring in superstars to get the new franchise off the ground.

And if you’re a player weighing up your options right now why wouldn’t you fancy a bit of that action?

5 Johnny Russell has also moved to America Credit: EMPICS Sport

Take Danny. He’s already played for Liverpool, Hearts and Rangers and he’s 26 years old.

He’s made good money in his career but his time at Ibrox had come to a crossroads.

And the pool of big clubs where he could continue to do that was probably starting to diminish.

So when the chance came to go to a place like Colorado it’s something he had to consider.

It’s a great lifestyle choice for starters and it’s not a huge jump in terms of language or culture.

So I can see why it ticked so many boxes for him. To use an American phrase it was a ‘no-brainer’.

Johnny’s situation was slightly different. Derby had offered him improved terms to stay and he was doing well in a league and country that is awash with money.

You would have thought there would have been clubs closer to home looking at him as well, but instead he’s off to Kansas.

5 Pirlo and Lampard both signed for New York City in the latter part of their career Credit: Reuters

But that’s the way things are going now. MLS clubs are in a position to compete for players like never before.

It didn’t used to be like that. Way back in the beginning it was like a retirement home for legends.

You had Franz Beckenbauer and Pele at New York Cosmos in the 1970s. More recently Beckham, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa headed Stateside towards the end of their careers.

But now? Guys are heading there in their prime. It’s become a hot destination for emerging South American talent.

So on the face of it the likes of Wilson and Russell could not be going at a better time.

Beckham’s Miami will want to make a big splash and raise the profile of the league further.

But one of the great things about MLS is they’ll never have a team that dominates for years and years.

Sure, they’ll bring in big names, but there’s a financial fairness in American sport there that we don’t have. The salary cap they have in place means there is no huge gulf between any of the sides involved.

5 David Beckham has recently started a franchise in Miami Credit: Getty Images - Getty

In fact if you were ever able to go back and start football again, their way would be a desirable way to do it.

But that’s never going to happen here with all the institutions already in place.

So I can see why players will be looking at what’s happening there and fancy a piece of the action.

And I am 100 per cent behind those who want to embrace a new challenge and try something different.

Making a move like that opens your eyes to other things and that’s what makes it worthwhile.

It can help give you a broader perspective, not least for what you want to do after you stop playing.

And it also can give you a different insight into coaching and the way things are done.

For me that meant Turkey — although my move to Genclerbirligi didn’t work out for a number of reasons.

5 Alfredo Morelos recently had his head turned by a bid from China Credit: PA:Press Association

I wanted to go abroad, I wanted to go somewhere with a different culture and language.

It was also important for me to try a new kind of football and experience new things. For obvious and well-documented reasons, my time there turned out to be short and sharp.

But I still felt my brief spell doing something different was beneficial.

So I can see why Alfredo Morelos’ head may have been turned by the offer Rangers got from China this week.

For starters the money on offer from Beijing Rehne would have been life-changing for the 21-year-old.

It wasn’t surprising to see Graeme Murty’s comments that he had been left confused by the turn of events.

But at the same time, fair play to Rangers for doing so because he has proven to be an astute signing for them.

Now Morelos needs to get his head down and focus on scoring goals again, which I think he will.

Yes, he may want a pay rise given what’s happened, but spitting the dummy out now won’t get him very far.

In fact it would jeopardise his future potential as a player. His chances of a move later on would be lowered.

Murty needs to speak to the player, explain the club’s reasons and make him understand the situation he is in.

And if Morelos gets back to doing what he does best there’s every chance he’ll get his big move in the summer.

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