By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor
LATEST ON LANDON: What it means definitively, nobody knows, but Landon Donovan putting his house up for sale last week is somewhat of an indication heÆs probably not planning on being in San Jose next year.
As to what it might cost for MLS to purchase DonovanÆs contract, Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis refused to speculate when asked last weekend. As a frame of reference, last spring English club Blackburn made an informal inquiry to Bayer Leverkusen, which owns DonovanÆs contract through 2008, and was told a fee at that time would be 5 million pounds ($9 million).
No question DonovanÆs value as a player is immense, and keeping him in MLS would help burnish his reputation in the United States as well as that of the league. Playing in MLS would also lessen his travel burden between club and country commitments, which Donovan admits has tired him out at times the past four seasons.
But in those four seasons, DonovanÆs ability to draw crowds has been — sad to say — minimal. Freddy AduÆs yearly salary of $500,000 seemed like a bargain this season in light of the publicity, attendance bumps and TV ratings he generated. If MLS makes a serious bid for Donovan, it will be rooted in his ability, not his allure.