Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

This is certainly encouraging:

Hearing Nick Sakiewicz of @PhilaUnion is on his way to @stokecity to finalize details of Maurice Edu going to Philadelphia. @MLS #offseason

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) January 23, 2014

More from MLSsoccer.com.

If you have read it yet, check out the latest column from PSP’s Dan Walsh for an update on the Union’s offseason moves.

The Carlos Valdes saga continues! Terra reported on Thursday (crappy Google translation here) that an agreement with San Lorenzo has been postponed until today in order “to close the final details” of a loan deal. Sigh. We shall see.

At the Soccer Wire, Chris Teale has a good read on Union draft pick Richie Marquez’s journey from Division III college soccer to MLS.

If you haven’t seen it yet, PSP videographer Daniel Gajdamowicz put together this groovy SuperDraft video essay.

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders defender Andrew Ribeiro has been sold to Chivas USA. Ribeiro has been playing for the Chivas U-23 team since the fall. More on the news from Penn Live.

ProSoccerTalk has some background on the USL PRO Combine, which opened on Thursday, and the NASL Combine, which opens today.

Here’s a look at the success of Reading United as a player development powerhouse from PSP contributor Phil Naegely.

MLS

The New York Red Bulls have signed defender Armando.

The Vancouver Whitecaps will partner with USL PRO side the Charleston Battery for the 2014 season.

When you think “San Jose Earthquakes,” do you think “punk rock”? Me neither.

Indy Week has a good read about why Sebastien Ibeagha, a US youth international who played at Duke, decided to forgo MLS and head to Europe.

US

Landon Donovan said of the prospects for the US at the World Cup, “I think the experience that we have now far exceeds the experience that we ever had with any team, and that lines up to give us a real chance. We are confident in how we play. We are confident in what we do. Our guys have had enough experiences against all of these players, against teams like Ghana, Portugal, Germany…We feel confident that we can get results against them, and that’s a nice feeling going into a World Cup.”

He also said of Group G, “The reason it’s the group of death is because we are in it. In the past, it would have been a relatively easier group for Germany or Ghana or Portugal because they had us in it. But now, because we are in it, it makes it one of the most difficult groups in the tournament.”

Here’s a look at the USMNT’s base camp in Brazil, Barra Funda, the training ground of Sao Paulo FC:

Perhaps we all need to start paying more attention to this guy.

At the Washington Post, Steven Goff has a look at US Soccer’s budget report for the next financial year. One item of note is that the federation has allocated $13.8 million for player development and $3 million for the Development Academy.

Here’s another interesting tidbit: “According to the budget, a typical home friendly generates $639,000 in revenue. The number fluctuates based on tickets sales, stadium expenses and other costs. An away match brings in between $25,000 and $75,000 but costs almost $400,000 in team expenses.” Ten USMNT friendlies are planned between April and November.

The Wall Street Journal catches up with Bob Bradley in Norway.

Elsewhere

Barcelona president has Sandro Rosell resigned after a lawsuit alleging misappropriation of funds in the purchase of Neymar was accepted by a judge in Spain’s national court. More on the story from Goal.com.

The AP reports, “Former Brazil stars Cafu and Bebeto warned that failure to complete one of the 12 World Cup venues on time would be a blow to the nation.” Cafu, captain of the 2002 World Cup winning Brazil team, said, “If Arena da Baixada is not included, it would be a disaster, not only for FIFA but for Curitiba and Brazil.”

From the Department of I Guess This Is Meaningful to Someone, Reuters reports,”Pitbull’s ‘We Are One (Ole Ola)’, featuring pop singers Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte, will be the official anthem of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.” Apparently, it hasn’t been recorded yet.

The Canadian Soccer Association plans on bidding for the 2026 World Cup. Maybe they should first work on getting grass fields for the 2015 Women’s World Cup.