We kick off our final media roundup before the holidays with a fittingly festive piece of transfer gossip.
According to Ghana Soccernet, NYCFC are ready to rival LA Galaxy and a host of European sides for the signature of Ebenezer Ofori.
No fees are mentioned in the story, so none of the clubs linked can be accused of making âScrooge-likeâ offers for Ebenezer (sorry).
Those clubs include Hamburg, Krasnodar and West Ham.
The story reads: âOfori, who plays for AlK Stockholm, has been in stupendous form the last two seasons in the Swedish top-flight.
âThe 21-year was named best midfielder in the Allsvenskan in 2015 and was named in the league's Team of the Season this term.
âHe has been likened other emerging youngsters Valencia's Dani Parejo, Julian Weigl of Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli.
âThe former New Edubiase United player is a sure bet to make a move during the January transfer window.
âOfori is likely to make Ghanaâs provisional squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.â
Elsewhere, Esbjerg fB midfielder Jeppe Andersen is another potential target for the club, according to reports in Denmark.
Danish publication BT run with quotes from Andersen: âI do not really know that much about it, but I have heard New York could be a possibility.
âNow Letâs say that it if it becomes a realistic option, which is not the case right now, I would be interested in it. Right now there is nothing concrete, so far as I know.â
A former Denmark u21 international, Andersen is also apparently attracting interest from Brondby.
As ever, donât forget that NYCFC.com should be your first port of all for confirmed transfer stories over the winter window when, and only when, the deals are done.
Away from transfer speculation, David Villa has hit out at people with ânastyâ opinions of MLS, stating that the majority of them have probably never watched a game.
âSoccer is soccer in every country. Here it is very good â it is passionate, competitive, physical,â Villa said in an interview with Uproxx. âA lot of passion to play here in MLS.
âPeople sometimes have opinions that are nasty, no? I mentioned yesterday â if the people coming here are watching one month, three, four games, itâs impossible to have this opinion.
âThe people who have this opinion have never watched a game in MLS, itâs not important for the people who want to build this league because this opinion is not true. If you watch the games or if you watch the construction or building of the league.â
Thatâs all for todayâĤ Happy Holidays from all at NYCFC!