Confirmation: Thierry Henry to Stain Reputation

As we have been reporting all along, media reports of Thierry Henry's pending transfer to MLS have taken a big step forward. The Boston Globe is reporting that an MLS official confirmed the speculation that will send the French forward to the US after the World Cup. We here at MLS Rumors Rumors are proud to say that we helped break the story and bring it to you, first-ish.

According to the speculation, Thierry Henry believes that his handling techniques are uniquely suited for the debacle that is the Red Bull New York Red Bulls of Harrison, New Jersey and he is looking forward to pouting, diving, and generally making fun of the referees in MLS.

"I am particularly, eh, looking forward to meeting up with this, how you say, Abbey Okulaja. I, eh, believes that he would buy my nod, shuffle, handball even if I were to do it five centimeters from his face."

Transfers: Post World Cup Invasion!

After the World Cup, expect a flood of talent to come to the United States and inundate the MLS with new and established stars. Why? Well, with the next World Cup four years away, a lot of players are looking for a couple of years of strong earnings and easy play. Afterall, David Beckham’s contract allowed him to get percentages on jersey sales and other image rights. Most of the top players in the world have an entourage as savvy as the Englishman and are looking to exploit the post-World Cup down time to rake in the bucks.

Here are a few players that we believe could be making the trip across the Pond. Surprising? Yes, but we’ve envisioned reasonable reasons for them to be the next big signing in MLS:

Messi: After winning the World Cup with Argentina, he wants to prove that he is even a bigger star than Pele. By coming to MLS and generating more buzz than Pele’s arrival at the Cosmos, Messi will secure his place among the greats, if not the greatest footballer of all time.

Christian Ronaldo: He’s followed David Beckham wherever he has gone. Why not the US?

Cesc Fabregas: Seeking to escape from the yearly tabloid tug of war between Arsenal and Barcelona, the midfielder would like to try his hand out in MLS. He is also more likely to come across the Pond if Messi comes here, in order to prove that he [Cesc] is in fact the best Barcelona prospect ever.

Michael Essien: Face it, England is cold, very cold. Essien’s from Africa, which is not cold. He knows that we play in the heat and he wants some of that. Not only that but how could he resist the lure of the country that brought the world Freddy Adu?

Please add your thoughts…

Sheffield United in Shock Ronaldo Swoop?

Sheffield United FC officials would have no comment today on rumors surfacing in the English steel town regarding a possible swoop - albeit a complicated one - to pry Ronaldo away from Manchester United in a 3-team deal with Real Madrid.

No one will speak on the record about this yet, given the sensitivity of the player and the complicated financials involved, but word around Brammall Lane has Sheffield United offering Real Madrid 90% ownership of the club and all its assets, while the Spanish giants would send Manchester United Robinho and Casillas to make the cash amount (still £100 million) a bit more manageable. We all know that £100 million doesn't go as far as it used to. The total transfer value would be in the neighborhood of £150 million.

United would feels Robinho would fit right in, and Madrid would rebrand the Sheffield outfit into a near team named Real Sheffield FC. Fans around the pubs are said to be unhappy that the club's history could be sold in the effort to have a Portuguese playmaker on the field, but Madrid have apparently agreed to keep the club's red, white, and black colors, and will still hate Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United.

Ronaldo hasn't yet commented on the move, but also hasn't ruled out joining Real Sheffield FC. The club are desperate to get out of the English Championship, feeling hard done by due to the Tevez/West Ham affair at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season. The Blades lacked a true playmaker last season, and weren't as dangerous on attack as fans and the back room staff would have liked, despite the efforts of James Beattie.

More on this story as it develops ...