Report: Is Walker Zimmerman looking overseas?

With one starting central defender out the door, it appears Walker Zimmerman could be the next to depart Los Angeles Football Club.

The U.S. international is reportedly looking at various options after his contract expires with the Black & Gold as the end of the season.

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

A source told MLSsoccer.com’s Sam Stejskal that Zimmerman has received interest in clubs in the German Bundesliga, English Premier League and Championship as well as French Ligue 1. The source did not provide any specific teams that were interested but did say he received “one written offer from a European team.”

The issue will be when Zimmerman’s contract expires at the end of the season, he will likely seek more money than the $235,000 he is making this season. The report suggests that he wants even more than the expected $530,000 Major League Soccer will allow as a maximum budget charge next season.

If the club were to entertain more than doubling his salary, they would have to pay down the budget charge with target allocation money or tag Zimmerman as a designated player — of which the club already has hit the max for.

If LAFC isn’t willing to meet the contract demand, because Zimmerman’s contract expires at the end of the season, he can sign a pre-contract offer with a foreign club now which would allow him to move as early as January, or he could wait until the official contract expiration date to sign with any team outside of MLS.

In an earlier interview with MLSsoccer.com, LAFC Executive Vice President and General Manager John Thorrington said that the club sees “Walker as part of [their] future for many years.”

Is this all a bargaining chip? Is he serious about going abroad? Stay tuned.

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