Jordan Morris not quite ready to sign with Sounders, will train in Germany

Because no good transfer saga is worth its salt without a few twists, turns and unexpected developments, it appears the Jordan Morris signing isn't quite as close to final as it appeared. Just a day after a report suggesting Morris was in the process of finalizing a deal that would have made him a Sounders Homegrown Player, now comes word from Grant Wahl that the 21-year-old will train with Bundesliga club Werder Bremen.

Morris, whose family still lives in Mercer Island, is reportedly still very much considering an offer from the Sounders that would be the "richest Homegrown Player deal" in league history. But that he's making this trip, presumably to get a first-hand experience with a team interested in signing him, suggests his loyalty is at least being tested.

Wherever he chooses to sign, this would at least indicate that returning to Stanford for his senior season is no longer a possibility. With classes already starting, this trip and an indication that he's planning to join the United States training camp on Jan. 20 the prospect of defending the Cardinal's NCAA championship was unsurprisingly not enough of a draw.

The Sounders open their preseason training on Jan. 22, which Morris will almost certainly miss no matter what.