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Five MLS players who may be next to move overseas

By Carson A Merk

Chelsea's US defender Matt Miazga warms up before the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 2, 2016. / AFP / OLI SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea's US defender Matt Miazga warms up before the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 2, 2016. / AFP / OLI SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Mar 13, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) controls the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) controls the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

#4- Darlington Nagbe

Like Wil Trapp, Darlington Nagbe honed his craft at NCAA soccer powerhouse Akron. He was then selected by his former college coach, Portland’s Caleb Porter to join him in the Pacific Northwest. They have found a high level of success, including winning last year’s MLS Cup, a feat that many feel only occurred due to Nagbe being moved to a central midfielder midseason. He is incredibly quick with the ball at his feet, and never hesitates to run at defenders, using his strong dribbling ability to continue pressing the ball forward.

The son of a former Liberian national team captain, Darlington has made five appearances for the USMNT since 2015. Porter has said that Nagbe is a player the US can build their team around, extremely high praise for a player with less than 10 total caps and hasn’t made a huge impact on the pitch internationally yet.

As he moves into a more established role with the US team, he will need to continue to assert himself, to back Porter’s words up, as a key player for the club. It’s just about being consistently great for Nagbe. He has the natural abilities: dribbling, great pace, good striking and keen instincts in the attacking third. More campaigns like his 2015, and Nagbe will be more than a little intriguing to European sides.

Next: #3 FC Dallas' Fabian Castillo

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