Real Salt Lake expects Findley back after World Cup

SANDY — Robbie Findley has started two World Cup games for the United States, and he may get a third today. He hasn't scored a goal though, or even sniffed one, so it's safe to that Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey isn't fielding calls from Real Madrid or Manchester United about a transfer.

Make no mistake though, there's interest in Findley, but nothing that has Lagerwey worried that Findley won't be back in an RSL uniform after the World Cup.

"For sure there's more interest in Robbie. We've had offers for Robbie," said Lagerwey. "Look, our first goal is to win a championship, and our first desire with Robbie is to re-sign him. I know nothing right now that indicates that we're going to have the same situation with Yura."

During the summer transfer last year former RSL striker Yura Movsisyan flew to Denmark and signed a pre-contract with Randers FC. Lagerwey doesn't anticipate such a move from Findley when the summer transfer window opens on July 1 — primarily because he might be a bit busy in South Africa.

As of Friday night Lagerwey confirmed that RSL had received four transfer offers for Findley. He said none were high enough to take seriously. Realistically though, with a contract that expires on Dec. 31 Lagerwey doesn't expect any big offers.

For now, Lagerwey is hoping to re-sign Findley to a long-term contract at the end of the season.

"We're going to have that conversation when he comes back," said Lagerwey. "Either way it's a win-win for us because we're literally picking up a World Cup National Team player who's going to be full of confidence, or if we get an offer that knocks our socks off and Robbie says he wants to go right away, that's something we'll consider."

DREAM MATCHUP: Robbie Russell is a conflicted man today.

When the United States faces faces Ghana in the round of 16 in the World Cup, Russell isn't quite sure to root for.

Russell lived in Ghana until he was a teenager, but then his family moved to the United States. He has obvious ties to both countries, and though a tie would be the perfect result it can't end that way in the knockout stages.