Bring Back Captain America

Despite being a reasonably big name in football for a while now, Landon Donovan has seen his star rising at a tremendous rate these past 6 months.

Donovan ? his country's all-time leading goalscorer ? has transformed himself from being seen as the best player in a below-par league in the MLS, to a geniuine top class player ? all in the last half-a-year or so.

Since landing on the frozen and snowbound tarmack at Liverpool John Lennon airport in January 2010, the American number 10 has overhauled his reputation by some way. After climbing aboard Everton?s bandwagon just before it roared into an unstoppable charge, the Californian has banished the demons from his previous European playing stint in the Bundesliga. (The player was seen as a flop in European football after failing to hit the heights expected of him during spells with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.)

Yet, upon completion of his 10-week loan spell with Everton he returned home to Los Angeles with such notable scalps as Premier League heavyweights Manchester United, eventual Champions Chelsea as well as a handful of goals and great performances against sides like megabucks Manchester City.

His parent club LA Galaxy have recently stated in the media that it was his experience at Everton which developed Donovan into the player he is now. Those comments came on the back of Donovan lighting up his nation?s World Cup campaign in South Africa with some crucial goals and big performances. The successful campagin of the United States at the tournament has ignitied interest in the sport across their country moreso than anything else in the last 10 years. Even the much heralded arrival of David Beckham to the MLS hasn?t had as much an effect on the game?s appeal as the national team?s showing in South Africa.

It is for that reason that Everton must now do everything in their power to bring the USA legend back to Finch Farm as has been suggested in the national media in the past few days. The marksman?s stock has never been higher than it is right now and it would be no exaggeration to suggest he is now a star on the world stage. To tie him more strongly with Everton is a business no-brainer if ever there was one.

A return would surely have the same type of lucrative benefits for the club in America as Tim Cahill brings the Blues in his homeland Austrailia. Such iconic players on the books works to raising Everton?s profile globally and the more recognition that Everton recieve, the more merchandise they invevitably sell and the more players are attracted to the club and want to play for them. Simple football and business math. The way the modern game works.

It is important to stress, however, that a return for Donovan would be far more than just the right move on a financial level. With his direct play, great pace and eye for goal, the striker-cum-midfielder is exactly the kind of player David Moyes?s squad needs to solve their problematic right flank.

As proved during his time with the Blues, he is perfectly adapted to the team and style which the manger employs, as well as being accustomed to the physicality of the English Premier League.

As well as being linked with Everton in the English tabloids recently, the Galaxy?s brightest star has also been tentatively linked with transfers to other English clubs such as deposed league holders Manchester United. Such gossip can be written off as just that, though, by Everton supporters, with little heed. In a gesture of gratitude for how well he was treated during his time there, the player swore to all Evertonians that, were he ever to return to England, it would only be with the Toffees.

?I?ve never met a fan base like this, either playing for them or as an away player. Forget about football for a moment, this is a experience I?ll never forget.? ? Loyalty like that is a rare commodity in the modern footballer.

The biggest stumbling block without doubt is LA Galaxy?s reluctance to let their key player leave as well as the potential transfer fee he would command. The most circulated rumour is that bringing the player back on a full time basis would cost between £8M-£10M, a price Everton may not be able to pay. In today?s warped transfer market, that sum for a player like Donovan would widely be seen as a bargain but the harsh reality is that the Toffees may not even have half that amount in their transfer funds this summer.

Should that be the case, however, another loan deal akin to his original in the next winter transfer window is an option that would surely have to be explored. Such a deal has proven to be a success for his teammate, David Beckham, who forced his way out of international exile with two successive mid-season loan moves to Italian giants AC Milan in the past two years. A similar system could benefit all parties involved on different levels, were it able to be agreed.

Everton would be able to have a player many still consider to be one of their own to call; the player himself would be able to continue playing a high level of football in the MLS off-season, and his parent club would be able to keep him sharp while they?re not in competitive action themselves.

The important thing is that Everton need to see Landon Donovan return to Merseyside next season for a multitude of reasons. Few players have ever forced themselves into the hearts of the Goodison Park faithful in such a short amount of time as he did and one would hope that his time with the club is not over.

Though matters may be out of the hands of David Moyes for now, while the iron is hot, he would do well to try his best to strike anyway.

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