Thread by @tutulismyname, Let's examine the

Let's examine the "Durkin Zone" - a somewhat new phenomenon of selling players that @scuffedpod listeners are hyped about but don't get playing time in MLS. Why is it happening, and should we expect it moving forward?

1) The namesake - Chris Durkin sold for $1.1m + 25% sell on

Durkin signed as a HG at 16 for DC and was a prominent member of the u-17 national teams sometimes captaining the side. He also played up a year to play in the impressive u20 side.

First two years, he's on loan in USL with Richmond. He then breaks through in 2018 in MLS but

while the potential is there, he's clearly a below-average MLS player usually based on mobility. Goes on loan to St. Truiden in Belgium where they like him and pay the $1m transfer.

Few things about MLS - $1m is the max allocation you can get from a sale, so while $1m isn't

a huge number in Europe to put on a player with decent potential, $1m GAM in MLS can get you an All-Star caliber CB in this league. From a Euro club standpoint, you have to figure this is something you can exploit in MLS to mine talent.

Second, it wasn't clear if Durkin was

going to realize his potential in MLS especially in his preferred #6 role. So from a DC end, it made sense moving quickly versus letting the asset depreciate.

The sell-on is perfect, so if Durkin does impress in Belgium, DC get even more resources later. The prototype deal.

Finally, from an MLS perspective it starts to overturn a (somewhat earned) reputation of clubs sitting on young playersneither giving them playing time, nor letting them move on to clubs without a ridiculous fee attached. In the long run, it helps MLS clubs sign players

to HG deals as they know its not signing up to be cuffed later.

2) Joe Scally for $2m with performance incentives up to $7m

Scally deal is like Durkin but to a greater extreme. Unlike Durkin who had at least 40 pro games in his belt before going on loan, Scally had only

had a handful of appearances and barely any minutes. This is basically all on potential and youth national team stand outs where Scally would sometimes play 3 years up and was a u-17 standout.

In NYCFC, Scally wasn't loaned to USL sides but permanently behind Tinnerholm who

is the best RB in the league. BMG swooped in at age 17 to set up a deal to send Scally a year later.

For NYC, its max salary and then some. Instead of a sell-on, they get more money the better Scally does at BMG.

The only reason why it doesn't happen earlier is because of

passport issues. But you would think from Scally's development a loan to USL sides would've been nice along the way.

3) Chris Richards for $1.5m + 40% sell on

Richards is the Scally deal to the extreme in that he never played at all for FCD and was in fact ineligible to play

for at least half a year. A late bloomer, he gets his first u20 camp at Jan 18, signs FCD pro contract in Apr, gets first u20 cap in May .. goes and trains with Bayern as part of a partnership, impresses and signs on a loan ... impresses further to trigger the buy and sell on.

FCD gets max allocation for a player that hasn't played a single minute but more importantly the 50% sell on. Richards was a high value prospect, and it wasn't out of the question that he could be a starter in MLS at age 19, when he was eligible.

But in the scenario, he

starts at FCD, is one of the best in the league and then FCD sells him? They still only get $1m in allocation. Furthermore, that 40% sell on now is worth more than any possible sale in keeping him.

Richards is on loan with Hoffenheim *without* a buy option and I'd reckon

a club that wanted to pry him from Bayern would have to pay in the $20m region ... which makes the sell on worth $8m-ish. The record MLS CB sale? $5m.

This is only possible because FCD and Bayern have a strong relationship which leads to

4) Justin Che loan + option to buy

Che is basically the Richards deal with a few noticeable differences. First, Che has a German passport and is headed over a year earlier. Second, Che has played in USL for North Texas, where he shined at that level.

He's extremely high potential and has the chance to play

this upcoming season for FCD (maybe even start?).

The loan is through the end of the season at Bayern, where he's going to play at most probably the u19 team. If he impresses, I bet the deal is similar to the Richards deal if not slightly higher.

If it works out FCD has another

max allocation to help the team win now and future stock investment. If it doesn't, Che is back with some Euro experience and can fight for first team minutes at FCD immediately.

So what's the end takeaway- The Durkin Zone is here to stay and is a good thing for all parties:

For MLS sides, its a way to make allocation to help teams win now + future money windfalls.

For players, it shows that the path to Europe can happen even if you're not Best XI in MLS or even playing in MLS at all.

For raiding Euro clubs, its a way to get a cheap pipeline of

high potential talent with very little downside.

For USMNT fans, its an exciting way to see prospects develop and hopefully into our starting line up.

It's one of the many evolutions of MLS in the last few years and one that I'm looking forward to seeing expand even more.

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