Szetela Deal Not Done, Feilhaber Eyes Derby Co.

• Associated Press, Wednesday, August 8, 2007 4 PM

Contrary to a North Jersey Herald report yesterday, Columbus Crew midfielder Danny Szetela has not finalized a move to AS Roma, although negotiations are ongoing, the player's agent Shep Messing said on Wednesday. "We're also in discussions with MLS," he added. "From what I'm told, I should also expect one soon from Lazio...I don't know where they're connecting the dots." Messing, a former New York Cosmos goalkeeper and current television analyst, said he's also held discussions with Turkey's Galatasaray, Italian clubs Parma and Siena, Germany's Hertha Berlin, Glasgow Rangers in Scotland and Everton in England.

Szetela would be a cheap capture for any of these clubs, as his contract with MLS expires at the end of this season, thus enabling him to leave on a free transfer. The Clifton, N.J., native signed with MLS at age 17, landing in Columbus. Szetela hasn't enjoyed the best of times for Columbus, appearing in only 31 games in three seasons, although the 19-year-old midfielder enjoyed a spectacular start to the U-20 World Cup earlier this summer, scoring three goals in the first two games en route to a quarterfinal finish with the Americans in Canada. If Szetela leaves he would be the third U-20 squad member to leave for Europe after Freddy Adu (Benfica) and Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96).

In other U.S.-related transfer news, USSoccerPlayers reports that newly promoted Derby County of the English Premier League is chasing Hamburg's Benny Feilhaber. Feilhaber, who played on both the U.S. Gold Cup and Copa America teams, must be considering his options at this point, after Hamburg coach Huub Stevens made it clear that the midfielder doesn't fit in with his plans.

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