Some Jozy details (plus a few other nibbles)

As you all know by now, Villarreal striker prodigy Josmer Altidore is set for a Hull City unveiling at 2.30 PM UK time, but I have managed to scrape away the details of the deal a little early.

Despite some reports that the Tigers would break their club record to sign him on a transfer, Altidore is joining the Prem battlers on a one-season loan. His Home Office work permit hearing is on Monday.

Though he falls short of the automatic approval threshold for USMNT caps over the past two years, I am very confident that Jozy will get the green light as a "special talent" arriving from a Euro-Top 25 club (not to mention Hull's obvious lack of forward options).

Do I think this is a helpful move? Yes, I do. Not only will experiencing a new league flavor round out his game a bit, but the going through a different training culture will as well. He will be forced to play those EPL matches at the highest speed, sharpening his decision making. And of course, Altidore will almost surely see more field time than he would have at Villarreal this season.

All of these things are great preparation in a World Cup year, plus he has the wizard Geovani playing behind him. It's certainly reasonable to hope he can bust into double figures in goals across all competitions.

And a few other bits:

• My Freddy Adu list is down to five. Several of the club sources admitted they would be interested (to varying degrees) were it not for the Eredivisie mandatory minimum salary for non-EU players (last time I checked, it was a shade under 500K Euros/season).
  
  I really do believe one of these Dutch clubs will feel strongly enough that they can polish the diamond - and there's nothing these people love more than a bargain find.
  

• Meanwhile, Heath Pearce's Eredivisie option has sailed, for now at least. At one time, Vitesse were preparing a bid, preparing a bid, preparing a bid... and then never did. But don't feel too bad for the U.S. left back, who still has a Swiss topper, a Danish club and a 2.Bundesliga team continuing longstanding interest.Look for this situation to reach a conclusion next week. We hope.
  
  One guy who is getting a real Vitesse shot is U.S. U-17 forward Jack McInerney, who began a trial with the club's youth set-up on Tuesday. I have been told he will be there a week and I have been told the stay will be 10 days, so that one I'm not certain about. I've been trying to get technical director Marc van Hintum on the phone for a week and haven't had any luck.
  

• Sal Zizzo's Fortuna Düsseldorf loan move is now off and he is training with Hannover 96. At this time, it looks like he will remain a Red until at least January. The good news is that the heart abnormality found in his Fortuna medical does not seem to be something that will keep him from playing or endanger his life.
  

• I'm hearing there could be a quick decision on Bryan Arguez at Charleroi. That can be either very good or very bad news.

• I highly doubt Michael Bradley will be moving back to the Eredivisie, as has been rumoured. I was told by a birdie that PSV Eindhoven called 'Gladbach about Michael Bradley and that the Foals named a nasty number: 12 million. Unless Ibrahim Affelay is sold, the Farmers probably won't be throwing that kind of seed around to replace Edison Mendez.
  
  Most importantly, Bradley is a starter in the Bundesliga and I can't imagine him trading back leagues in a World Cup year if he doesn't have to.

• IK Start trialist Tony Taylor will play in a friendly with Viking this evening. You can see a short clip of him in Wednesday training here.

• Today's Europa League 3rd qualifying round second leg schedule for Americans is as follows: Ryan Guy and St. Pat's travel to Russia with a 1-0 lead to face Krylia Sovetov (10 AM ET start), Johann Smith's Rijeka head to the Ukraine to tackle Metlaist Kharkiv down 2-1 (2 PM ET), Troy Perkins and Vålerenga visit Greece's PAOK trailing 2-1 (2.45 PM ET) & the Fulham duo of Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson welcome Lithuania's FK Vetra up 3-0 from the away leg (3.00 PM ET).

• AGF midfielder Benny Feilhaber was named to the Team of the Month for July. Here is a short feature interview with the U.S. international.

That's all for now, but I hope to have another goodie for all by your lunchtimes.


- Greg Seltzer