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New England: Revs linked to Cristhian Machado, Nguyen linked abroad

By Jordan Jacobsen

FOXBOROUGH, MA - APRIL 08: New England Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen (24) during the national anthem before a regular season MLS match between the New England Revolution and the Houston Dynamo on April 8, 2017, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Revolution defeated the Dynamo 2-0. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - APRIL 08: New England Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen (24) during the national anthem before a regular season MLS match between the New England Revolution and the Houston Dynamo on April 8, 2017, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Revolution defeated the Dynamo 2-0. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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New England looks to start off on the right foot under new head coach Brad Friedel, but key playmaker, Lee Nguyen, is linked with a move to Vietnam.

The New England Revolution have already made some significant changes under new coach Brad Friedel as they continue preparation for the 2018 MLS Season. The most notable changes up to this point in the offseason have been the club trading MLS veteran Kei Kamara to Vancouver and declining the option on Designated Player midfielder Xavier Kouassi along with six other players.

Reports are surfacing that the Revolution is lined up to bring in Bolivian defensive midfielder Cristhian Machado on a 2-year loan from Club Jorge Wilstermann in Bolivia. Machado could be an immediate replacement for Kouassi while not taking up a Designated Player spot. The 27-year-old has played his entire professional career in Bolivia but recently began earning call-ups for his national team and could be looking to take his playing level to the next step in the more competitive MLS.

The most impactful change, however, may be on the horizon, as USMNT playmaker Lee Nguyen has been linked with a move back to Vietnam. The club pushing for the move, and willing to pay for it, is FLC Than Hoa FC. Nguyen played two and a half seasons in Vietnam following a few years in Europe before coming to MLS. Nguyen has been a stalwart for the Revs ever since, including leading the club 18 goals in 2014 when they lost to the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final. The 31-year-old midfielder finished the 2017 season with 11 goals and 15 assists while New England finished just outside of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

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Vietnamese clubs showing interesting in Nguyen is nothing new. Ever since his first stint in Southeast Asia, he has been routinely linked with V.League 1 clubs, but as New England now shifts their focus to the future and with FLC Than Hoa FC reportedly willing to offer a hefty transfer fee, now may be the best time for the Revs to cash in on the playmaker’s popularity as they build for the future.

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