Major Link Soccer: Story of the year

Seattle

2014 season tickets for the Sounders U23 are now available. The 8 game Flex Pack can be had for $60.

MLS

It looks like Peruvian winger Jorge Bazan may be close to signing with MLS. Black and Red United notes that he has been a rumored DC United target.

MLSsoccer.com named the Mike Magee for Robbie Rogers trade as the controversy of the year. Hot Time in Old Town has a problem with this, considering the legal trouble Chivas USA found itself in last spring.

The story of the year was Clint Dempsey's return to MLS.

FC Dallas goalkeeper Raúl Fernández may be heading back to Peru soon, as his agent is looking into a return to his old club there.

The possibility of a MLS expansion team in Minneapolis is becoming more likely with a new stadium design that is suitable for soccer and reports that talks between the Minnesota Vikings and MLS "have heated up". Another report says that the NASL Minnesota United are the club that could swoop in for spot 24.

David Beckham is recruiting some of his Hollywood friends to join his ownership group in Miami. The team's stadium will also be privately financed, so the political hurdles Orlando City had to go through won't be an issue in Miami.

According to the Daily Mail, Toronto FC will announce its signing of Jermain Defoe at the end of next week.

US Soccer

Cal FC will be back in next year's US Open Cup after a thrilling 3-2 win in extra time over Doxa Italia.

Yesterday, Soccer Morning had a promotion/relegation special, including an interview with Indy Eleven President & GM Peter Wilt.

Italy

Gianluigi Buffon gave his opinion on what he calls "territorial discrimination" in Italy and whether he would be open to having a gay teammate (he would).

Reports emerged early yesterday morning that Mario Balotelli wants to leave AC Milan. His agent later disputed those reports, but there was also a story that Silvio Berlusconi wants to get rid of Balotelli anyway.

England

Since Steve McClaren was named the manager of Derby County, the Rams have taken 25 of 27 possible points, launching the team from 14th to 2nd in the Championship table. If the season were to end today, Alan Hinton and Ross Fletcher's Derby would be promoted to the Premier League, along with Arlo White and Kasey Keller's Leicester City.

Scotland

Some lackluster attendance numbers in the Scottish Premier League seem to suggest that Celtic is suffering from a drop in demand without the rivalry with Rangers in the top flight.

Europe Transfer Rumors

With Robert Lewandowski likely to sign a pre-contract agreement with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund have targeted Atlético Madrid striker Diego Costa.

Arsenal plan to raid Real Madrid's roster for the second time this season. This time Arsene Wenger is looking to sign Alvaro Morata on loan.

Fabio Contrao is again being linked with a move away from Real Madrid in the January transfer window.

Borussia Mönchengladbach (another former team of Kasey Keller) is interested in signing Fabian Johnson away from Hoffenheim.

2014 World Cup

A soccer politics class at Duke University has provided a comprehensive guide to the World Cup for fans. Topics covered include a cultural overview of Brazil, the politics of FIFA, what Brazil's organizers can learn from the experience of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and information on players, teams and referees.

Some of the game's top players praised the Brazuca World Cup ball.