Malik Jakupovic is beginning to draw serious attention at Philadelphia Union, even if his progress has come in measured steps rather than a sudden burst. While Cavan Sullivan continues to command headlines, Jakupovic is quietly building a case of his own at Subaru Park.

The Michigan-born striker only made his MLS debut in March and is still waiting for a first start. His recent usage underlines that gradual path: only two of his last five appearances have lasted more than a minute. Even so, the interest around him keeps growing.

Borussia Dortmund were already credited with an approach over the summer, with reports saying Philadelphia rejected a bid for the teenager. Since then, the picture has widened further, with Premier League links now circulating alongside the long-standing Bundesliga connection. For a player with just one senior goal, that level of transfer noise says plenty about how highly he is regarded.

Jakupovic’s record in MLS NEXT Pro helps explain why clubs are paying attention. He joined the Union academy three years ago, moving to Philadelphia at 14 with the hope of climbing the ranks and helping the club one day win its first MLS Cup. By 2025, he had become an important part of the reserve side, scoring eight times in 19 MLS NEXT Pro appearances and finishing as the team’s second-highest scorer in his first campaign.

His senior breakthrough followed in 2026, when the Union called him into their Concacaf Champions Cup squad. He made his official debut in the 7–0 win over Defence Force, then moved between the first team and Philadelphia Union II as his form dictated. That pattern continued this season until September, when he finally held his place long enough to make an impact. In his third straight appearance for the Union, the 17-year-old scored his first MLS goal, finishing from close range in stoppage time during the 5–0 win over San Diego FC.

Minutes have remained scarce since then, however, and Philadelphia’s attack is crowded. The team has scored 23 goals in its last six matches, with Sullivan in strong form, Bruno Damiani scoring freely and Milan Iloski adding another layer of competition.

“Malik has shown great growth since joining our academy, and his maturity at just 16 years old speaks to his professionalism and commitment,” Philadelphia sporting director Jon Scheer said of Jakupovic back in April.

That professionalism may serve him well, whether his next step comes in Philadelphia or abroad.

The 2026 World Cup changed the market for several U.S. men’s national team players. Strong performances on the biggest stage helped open doors across Europe, while others used the summer to secure fresh opportunities after productive domestic seasons. From MLS exits to moves inside Europe’s top leagues, the window produced a mix of progress, promise and one Deadline Day saga that never quite became a transfer.

Sebastian Berhalter was among the clearest beneficiaries. He was not a regular starter under Pochettino this summer, but he still logged five World Cup appearances, finishing with a goal and an assist. That followed a career-best 21 goal contributions for the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2025, and he backed it up again in 2026 with seven goals and four assists in 18 matches. Middlesbrough moved quickly, paying $2 million in July for the midfielder’s signature. The switch to England’s second tier gives him a major step up from MLS and a possible pathway toward the Premier League.

Gio Reyna needed a reset, and he got one. After managing only 20 appearances for Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2025-26, he went to the World Cup and delivered five appearances, capped by a standout goal against Paraguay. That was enough for Strasbourg to hand him a five-year deal. Reyna has already shown encouraging signs, setting up the only goal in a preseason match against Newcastle United before making his Ligue 1 debut off the bench. He then earned a start against Lens and helped Strasbourg take three points. For a player who needs rhythm, that kind of continuity matters.

Zavier Gozo’s move carried a different kind of weight. The 19-year-old left Real Salt Lake for Crystal Palace on a five-year contract, scored for the club’s U-21s against Arsenal’s youth side, and then made his Premier League debut six days later in a 4-1 loss to Manchester City. The numbers were modest, but the age profile and upside remain obvious.

Folarin Balogun did not move in the end, but his Deadline Day story was impossible to ignore. A permanent switch from Monaco to Everton fell apart after a failed medical, a brief pivot toward Joshua Zirkzee, renewed contact over Balogun, and Monaco pulling back from a separate sale involving Lamine Camara. In the end, Balogun stayed put.

Real Salt Lake are being linked with a move for Georginio Wijnaldum, one of the standout figures from Liverpool’s recent peak years. The former Premier League midfielder is now 35 and available on a free transfer after his spell with Al-Ettifaq ended this summer.

Wijnaldum’s name remains closely tied to Liverpool’s most successful modern era. Across 237 appearances for the club, he delivered 22 goals and 16 assists, helping drive the side to major achievements under manager Jurgen Klopp, including the 2019 UEFA Champions League title and the 2020 English Premier League victory.

Before arriving at Anfield, he built his career with Feyenoord and PSV, then moved on to Newcastle United, which paved the way for his switch to Liverpool. After leaving Merseyside, he continued his career with Paris Saint-Germain and AS Roma before moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023.

His international record is equally notable. Wijnaldum has scored 28 goals in 96 appearances for the Netherlands and played an important role in the team’s third-place finish at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He scored in the 3–0 third-place win over the hosts after the Netherlands had lost to Argentina in the semifinal. He was not included in the 2026 World Cup squad.

A move to Real Salt Lake would place him among a growing list of former European names arriving in MLS. The article also points to Thomas Müller of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Son Heung-min and Hugo Lloris of LAFC, and Marco Reus and Sergi Roberto of the L.A. Galaxy.

Real Salt Lake have already been active this summer, and a Wijnaldum arrival would help offset some of the departures and keep the club competitive in a stronger Western Conference. Among those losses was winger Zavier Gozo, who joined Crystal Palace for nearly $15 million. There is also continued interest in Diego Luna, despite his dip in form and absence from the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup roster.