As the heat is getting turned up on possible Italian and European destinations for USMNT and current Antalyaspor striker Haji Wright, Turkish media is reporting that he could be out for 2-3 weeks with a back strain.
Since arriving in Turkey prior to the 2021-22 season on what was initially a loan deal, the California-born Wright has become one of the more prolific forwards in the country’s top-flight Super Lig.
After netting 14 goals through 32 games in his inaugural season, he has followed up with ten through only his first 16 in the ongoing term.
After featuring in all four of the USMNT’s games in the recent World Cup, where he started in arguably the toughest group game against England, and scored the Americans’ only goal in their knockout loss to Netherlands, the rumor mill has started churning about a winter transfer.
Initially, English Premier League club Crystal Palace and American-owned Serie A team Atalanta were named by his agent back in mid-December. However the list of rumored suitors has grown in recent days to include a further trio of Italian teams Torino, Udinese and Cremonese as well as English team Brentford.
This is in addition to Turkish powerhouses Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, who apparently cannot match the rumored €10M fee sought by his team, and Russians Lokomotiv Moscow, whose bid was supposedly nixed by the player himself in the last few days.
Adding fuel to the fire, Antalyaspor’s president Aziz Çetin confirmed in comments to the media today that there were multiple offers for Wright, although he did indicate that no face-to-face meetings had occurred with the interested parties.
However, amidst the growing steam, multiple reports have now emerged in Turkey that the American is suffering from a back strain, and will need 2-3 weeks to recover.
If confirmed, this would keep him out of Saturday’s Super Lig game against Giresunspor, their Cup match against Kayserispor, and the subsequent league clash against supposed suitors Galatasaray on January 21.
Nevertheless, this will do little to cool the rumors on what might be the marquee transfer for Americans in this midseason window.
