TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report

It’s been a source of curiosity and speculation in MLS circles this spring: What are the New England Revolution doing with Lee Nguyen?

The Revs’ veteran playmaker requested a trade in the offseason but has received only a spot on the team’s periphery in return. The US international has yet to play a minute or even make the Revs’ 18-man gameday roster this season, amid reports that new coach Brad Friedel has steadfastly refused to even entertain offers for Nguyen for much of this spring.

ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman discussed the issue in detail at halftime of Sunday’s Sporting KC vs. Seattle Sounders broadcast, revealing that New England recently received – and apparently rejected – a sizable offer from another MLS club for Nguyen.

“First and foremost, I want to make this clear, that I have no problem If Brad Friedel looks at Lee Nguyen and says, ‘he doesn’t fit into my plans.’ Any coach has that matter, it happens all over the world. that’s not an issue,” said Twellman, himself a Revolution icon thanks to years of goalscoring exploits during his own playing career.

“But there’s two parts of this that are very important. Ten days ago a team in the Eastern Conference offered $750,000 of allocation money for Lee Nguyen. If Justin Meram [traded from Columbus to Orlando over the winter] is worth a little more than a million, that’s too low for the New England Revolution to pull the plug on that. However, if you look at the asset, which is Lee Nguyen, he’s got this year and two-year options. that’s $1.5 million, plus that allocation, at minimum of 750[,000], that’s an asset of $2.25 million."

The Revs have gotten off to a decent start this season without Nguyen, winning three of their first five matches before losing at home to FC Dallas on Saturday. They currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference.