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Now that the major international tournaments are behind us for the summer, the transfer window, apart from the Olympics, is starting to heat up. A byproduct of tournaments like the Copa America and the European Championship is that they can give players who wouldn’t be scouted as much in their domestic competitions the chance to be noticed by clubs abroad. While clubs should be wary of players who put in their best performances at those tournaments but ultimately fail to succeed at the next level, the Copa America has brought a number of names to the fore.
Let’s see who improved their stock in the Copa America this summer:
Jon Amarambu, Venezuela
The Real Society The right-back played 11 games with the team last season and Aramburu made the most tackles of any player during the Copa America while being a strong part of the Venezuelan defense. Real Sociedad is only 21 and may not want to sell Aramburu for the potential he has, but if a team can provide a consistent first-team spot, he could be quite an attractive loan candidate. Aramburu has shown what he can do when given game time and in an important development season he needs to play as much as possible.
Moise BombitoCanada
Reportedly already getting an offer from Lyonit may only be a matter of time before Moise Bombito departs from the Colorado rapids. The centre-back has an impressive passing range, while his positioning is well balanced to run straight into an organized defensive side. The Rapids’ move to a more cohesive lineup under Jesse Marsch was something that put into perspective what Bombito can do in the right lineup. He is someone who follows the path of… Ishmael Kone get to the championship and then make that a big five European move.
Richard Rios, Colombia
Richard Rios, a defensive midfielder with range, was everywhere for Colombia during the Copa America. The 24-year-old has never played outside America and most of his appearances have taken place in South America, but he has grown since joining Brazilian giants Palmeiras. His career may look different without picking up a knee injury while on loan at Mazatlan in Liga MX, but after attracting quite a bit of attention during the Copa America, Rios is someone who could be on the move. Palmeiras is already a household name on the global market for their talented youth academy, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any useful players over the age of 21 in the squad.
Jacob Shaffleburg, Canada
Canada’s attack was a disappointment, but the Nashville SC winger was impressive every time he touched the ball. Jacob Shaffleburg is quite direct and knows what he wants to do on the wing, which led to a goal and an assist during the Copa America. He’ll need to sort out his decision-making as there are plenty of times when he needs to cross instead of shoot, but those are things that come with coaching and experience. Shaffleburg has the resources to reach the next level outside of MLS, so it’s only a matter of time before someone comes knocking on Nashville’s door.