American Benny Feilhaber will not be making the switch from Derby County to Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to the midfielder’s employer. Rather, a move to Major League Soccer looks more likely. The 22-year-old midfielder traveled to Israel for negotiations with the Tel-Aviv club, but the parties couldn’t come to an agreement about a transfer price. Derby chairman Adam Pearson says the club now prefers to sell him to MLS.
“Maccabi Tel-Aviv showed an interest in Benny and we allowed him the chance to speak to them,” Pearson said. “However, we have now rejected their latest bid and have called Benny back to Derby. There is a lot of interest in Benny in the MLS in the States and it is something that is likely to be pursued, therefore we feel it is in the best interests of the club and the player to get him back with us.”
Feilhaber has seen little playing time at Derby this season, having started just one game since his $2 million move from Hamburg in August.