USMNT's Patrick Agyemang's Potential Value at $8 Million Investment
In the vibrant world of Major League Soccer (MLS), a pattern of late career blooms among center forwards has been a recurring theme. Milton Keynes Dons' Patrick Agyemang, a 24-year-old striker, could potentially join this esteemed group, with English club Derby County reportedly pursuing him for an $8 million transfer fee.
One notable example of a center forward who had a late career bloom in MLS is Milan Iloski. At the tender age of 25, Iloski demonstrated an extraordinary scoring burst with San Diego FC, netting seven goals in just 93 minutes. His goals per 90 minutes rate of 2.62 is extraordinarily high, even compared to Lionel Messi’s peak of 1.56 goals per 90 minutes at age 25 for Barcelona. This kind of scoring rate is considered unsustainable long-term, but it highlights Iloski's breakthrough as a late bloomer in the center forward role.
Similarly, Chris Wondolowski, a three-time MLS Cup winner, scored 164 of his MLS-record 171 career goals beginning in his age 28 season or later. Brian McBride, another MLS legend, had his entire five-plus-year Premier League career after his 30th birthday. Brian White, who is currently 28, might be entering a similar career trajectory.
Agyemang, like Iloski, Darwin Nunez, and Wondolowski, shares the quality of bringing value to his team despite room for improvement. His performance with Charlotte FC has been consistent, and he has the potential to be a valuable addition to a team, despite criticisms about his performance with the U.S. men's national team and concerns about his age.
The salary for Agyemang is reported to be in the range of $1.2-1.5 million, more than 10-fold what he currently makes with Charlotte. This significant increase in salary suggests that Derby County values his potential contribution to the team, even if his performance has been criticized.
In summary, while specific xG data for these players is not immediately available, the cases of Iloski, Wondolowski, and McBride, among others, demonstrate that center forwards can have late career blooms in MLS. Agyemang, with his consistent performance and potential for growth, could join this group and provide valuable contributions to Derby County.
Sports analysts might find an interesting comparison between Patrick Agyemang's potential late career bloom in MLS, similar to Chris Wondolowski and Brian McBride, and his transfer to Derby County. This is reminiscent of the success stories of Milan Iloski and Brian White in American football, demonstrating that age is not always a determining factor in a player's success, especially in the center forward role.
