Thomas Mueller has rejected the first reported offer by an MLS team, according to German outlet Bild. But that may only be the start of the courtship between MLS club and the third all-time leading scorer in Bayern Munich history.
Mueller reportedly rebuffed a credible offer from FC Cincinnati, as well as Serie A side Fiorentina, Bild reported on Wednesday. That doesn't necessarily rule out either club in their pursuit of the German star, whom Bayern has not offered a contract extension after a career that included portions of 17 seasons with the first team.
The rejections could indicate that Mueller isn't interested in those particular destinations, not the leagues themselves. It could also represent a negotiating tactic meant to try and raise the price of the 35-year-old's services at his next club. Or it could merely be his camp buying time to allow other potential suitors to get involved in the bidding and give his camp a more complete sense of his market value.
How likely is Mueller to MLS?
There's no guarantee Mueller would want to come to MLS. After all, he has already been linked to a credible Serie A offer. And it's not as though he has become a small bit part player for Bayern.
Entering the weekend, Mueller had made 40 appearances across all competitions (14 starts), scoring six goals and contributing six assists. That's hardly washed, and there would be plenty of teams in the upper levels of European football who could still use his services.
But an MLS team might be willing to pay a higher salary given how his name value could help sell tickets and merchandise in a way it wouldn't in Serie A.
Cincinnati has been the MLS club most consistently connected to Mueller since it became clear his Bayern tenure was coming to an end.
Yet we've seen plenty of European stars pass over smaller markets for the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Chicago or Toronto. And LAFC also has a partnership with Bayern Munich, which could potentially persuade Mueller in his choice of MLS clubs.
If that's eventually what happens, whatever MLS club signs Mueller would reportedly have to compensate Cincinnati for his discovery rights, according to Bild.