Now that Jordan Morris is training with Werder Bremen their staff is able to see him up close, and they like what they see. But there is not yet a formal offer beyond the training stint.
[Werder Bremen GM Thomas] Eichin told Bremen newspaper Kreiszeitung that he has been impressed with what he saw during Morris' first training session with Bremen.
"He does a few things, you usually rarely see. He has his sights set on the goal at all time, does not think about it too much, and he reminds me of my time in ice hockey," said Eichin via ESPN FC
The Seattle Sounders are also aware of those talents. They've seen it with Stanford, with the Sounders U23s, with the Sounders Reserves, with the United States National Team and Youth National Teams, with the Academy and as a boy just hanging out with his father in the Sounders USL era.
Sounders President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey remains hopeful to sign Morris.
"Jordan's over there training and they're going to react as they react, it's a thing we don't control," Lagerwey told MLSsoccer.com. "It's part of Jordan's process, and when he completes his process I hope he signs with the Sounders. I think we put our best foot forward, I think MLS is a great place for a young player to start his career, and I think we continue to have a great relationship with Jordan. So I'm hopeful that will work out."
Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl echoes those sentiments as well. Today, on SI Now, a daily live video cast, Wahl still felt 85% certain that Morris would be a Sounder.
The reasoning for this gets a bit complicated. Because it is clear that Werder Bremen like what they see. They need a third forward to pair with USMNT's Aron Johannsson (when healthy) and Nigeria's Anthony Ujah. And yes, that seems really familiar.
But, according to a translation by grudnik of Bavarian Football Works Eichin told Weser-Kurier that they want to complete the transfer within the German secondary window (ends February 1st) and it's a creative transfer.
"Players that want to take the next step." That's why Eichin wants to get the deal with Jordan Morris done, and in this transfer window. "We still need to check off a few things, development compensation and such."
Training compensation for American youth players is a complex, and unsettled situation. In this specific case the situation may help the Sounders keep the potential star that they had a hand in developing.
"That's what this one is with Jordan Morris, where no one really knows, where the journey will take them."
Jordan does not just have the usual opportunity to go directly from College Cup champion to one of the best leagues in the world, he would do so in the untested situation since the October discussions between US Soccer and the youth clubs that develop so many kids from child to pro.