Jozy Altidore Still Looking for a European Home

Perhaps no player on the 2010 U.S. World Cup roster had as much to gain or to lose in his professional career than 20-year-old forward Jozy Altidore.

Although we've seen Landon Donovan emerge as a breakout, cross-over media star in the wake of the U.S.'s run to the Round of 16, as far as soccer terms go Donovan is who he is at this point. Any doubts that he couldn't -- assuming he wants to -- go to a big European club and succeed are but a distant whimper now.

Yet it's Altidore -- a player U.S. fans have pinned so many hopes and expectations on -- who could have made himself a hot commodity in the summer transfer season after his year-long loan to Premier League club Hull City from Villareal ended in May. As it stands today, however, with the club season rapidly approaching, Altidore's club status remains in flux.

Wednesday an Associated Press interview with Altidore's agent Lyle Yorks cited interest by Dutch giants Ajax as well as Turkish powers Besiktas and Fenerbahce as possible suitors for the New Jersey native. Yorks also said two unnamed Premier League clubs have inquired about Altidore.

Yorks was quoted as saying something that nearly every U.S. supporter has been saying about Altidore since his $10 million move from the New York Red Bulls to Villareal two summers ago, "It's important to find a home for himself where he's going to get games, continue to develop and really show his abilities."

It appears that despite its heavy investment in the then-18-year-old Altidore, Villareal doesn't have plans for him. Otherwise this loan or transfer talk wouldn't still be ongoing, he'd simply be getting ready for the start of La Liga in late August.

The biggest hitch for Altidore is that a club of Villareal's modest means can't simply write off the $10 million it spent on Altidore as a bad investment. The club is well within its rights to want to get some return on Altidore before cutting bait. He may not fit in the club's plans, but he's still a nice trading chip.

On the plus side, the clubs being thrown around openly by Yorks on Wednesday are much higher profile than last year's loan to Hull City, which started brightly and ended in disaster. Altidore appeared primed for big things at the club, setting up a goal on his first touch of the ball, yet it ended with a red card suspension and the Tigers being relegated to the English League Championship. Through it all, Altidore managed just one Premier League goal, despite being given heavy playing time.

Ajax, who are considered the biggest club in Holland, have fallen on hard times lately, passed domestically and internationally first by PSV Eindhoven and later AZ and FC Twente. The Amsterdam club hasn't won the Eredivise since 2003-04 and has steadily lost money by failing to qualify for the lucrative Champions League.

The club, however, was able to convince manager Martin Jol to turn down advances from Fulham and try to get the club into the Champions League. Ajax plays Greek club POAK in the third qualifying stage Wednesday.

Ajax has yet to cash in on World Cup star striker Luis Suarez. If the club does sell the Uruguayan it would create more of an immediate opening for a player like Altidore. At Ajax, Altidore would be counted on to step in immediately and contribute, as the team simply can't afford to slip any further down the Dutch totem pole.

Granted, in recent times the Eredivisie hasn't exactly been known for its defense, which could result in a garrish goal total for Altidore if given the chance. Just look at Suarez, who led all of Europe with 49 goals in 48 games last year.

Though they lack the brand awareness of a club like Ajax, a move -- preferably a loan -- to either of the Turkish clubs would actually be a pretty smart decision for Altidore.

The Turkish Süper Lig is up to ninth in the UEFA coefficient rankings, one above the Eredivisie. The Turkish federation is determined to improve the national team -- it recently hired Guus Hiddink as coach -- and they'd like to import quality foreign imports to rub off on the domestic Turkish players. The country clearly has high hopes for Euro 2012 after missing out on the 2010 World Cup.

Fenerbache already employs Uruguay captain Diego Lugano and Brazil international Andre Santos, as well as Turkish national team stars Emre, Semih Şentürk and Volkan Demirel. The club has signed ex-Chelsea Slovakian international Miroslav Stoch this summer, too.

Fenerbache, like Ajax, is currently in the third round of Champions League qualification. It played Swiss club BSC Young Boys Wednesday.

Beşiktaş, which won the Turkish league in 2009, slumped last year but has already announced its ambition by luring ex-Real Madrid legend Guti to Istanbul. The club also grabbed Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma from Inter Milan. Coached by former German standout Bernd Schuster, Besiktas would certainly present an interesting, challenging step in Altidore's soccer education with plenty of different, experienced soccer minds rubbing off on him on the training ground.

Without the pressure of a World Cup waiting at the end of the season, Altidore can probably take his time to decide on a club that sets his future up for the best. Playing time, obviously, is crucial in his development but Altidore needs to find a home where the club management has faith in him and will allow him to blossom.

At the very least, even if he didn't score during the World Cup, Altidore is still currying interest around Europe.

Better yet, it's by established, quality clubs with plenty of resources and strong reputations, something that was lacking at Hull City. The only downside is these clubs aren't exactly household names in America and don't carry the cache of a club, even a lower rung one, of the Premier League.