Photo by ISIPhotos.com

With January here, the winter transfer season is upon us and while the moves of big European stars will rule the headlines, there are a bunch of American players in dire need of loans or transfers this month.

You know it's not an ideal trend.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

Former FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper is on his way back to Major League Soccer, but he won't be returning to Texas.

According to German publication Kicker, Cooper is leaving 1860 Munich to join the Portland Timbers.

By FRANCO PANIZO

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - MLS coaches were probably wishing that Joe Gyau was entering the upcoming draft.

Gyau, who is under contract with German club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, enjoyed an impressive outing in the U.S. U-20 national team's intra-squad scrimmage on Sunday afternoon.

Forward Kenny Cooper is once again a member of Major League Soccer, joining the expansion Portland Timbers. Cooper left MLS after the 2009 season, signing with 2.Bundesliga club 1860 Munich. He spent the second half of the 2009-10 season on loan with Plymouth Argyle. Cooper missed time this Fall recovering from an ankle injury.

Inglostadt x 1860 Munich - Audi Arena - I didn't know it at the half-way point of my trip, but this would be my final match. Since I was in Munich on a Sunday, the odds of a lower divison side having a nearby match were good. I'm extremely lucky that Inglostadt, a city one hour North of Munich, was hosting TSV 1860 Munich.

Inglostadt x 1860 Munich - Audi Arena - I didn't know it at the half-way point of my trip, but this would be my final match. Since I was in Munich on a Sunday, the odds of a lower divison side having a nearby match were good. I'm extremely lucky that Inglostadt, a city one hour North of Munich, was hosting TSV 1860 Munich.

The U.S. U-20 MNT played an intrasquad scrimmage in front of coaches and scouts from every MLS club, a slew of media and some fans at the Central Broward Regional Park – the same field as the MLS combine games.

Those in attendance were treated to an impressive display, with the game being played at a high pace – especially for an intrasquad.

STARTERS
The USA has confirmed 2 more friendly matches - Sat Mar 26 v Argentina in the Meadowlands, and Tue Mar 29 v Paraguay in Nashville.
dN
The word around town is that Kenny Cooper been released by his club in Germany freeing him up to sign with Portland.

Kenny Cooper is returning to MLS with Portland.

After a couple weeks of speculation and rumors former FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper has left German side TSV 1860 Munich to join the MLS expansion side Portland Timbers.

The 26-year old transferred to 2.Bundesliga (second division) side 1860 Munich in 2009 after four seasons in MLS with FC Dallas.

The Portland Timbers bolstered their attack at last week's MLS Draft with the selection of Akron striker Darlington Nagbe, and now the Timbers have officially added an ideal partner for Nagbe in former U.S. national team striker Kenny Cooper.

Portland announced the acquisition of Cooper on Monday, pending receipt of his international transfer certificate.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Forward Kenny Cooper has signed with Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers. The 26-year-old had 40 goals in 90 games for FC Dallas from 2006-09. Cooper then signed with 1860 Munich and scored three goals in 15 games in all competitions. He spent part of this year on loan at Plymouth as it [.

Lots happening over the last week or so it's time for Project 2010 to help you catch up:

The big move to report is Jermaine Jones to Blackburn. The American midfielder has joined the club on loan for the duration for the season, although Blackburn are supposedly saying they'd like to make the loan deal permanent at the end of the season.

-Jason Davis
After two and half years in Europe, Kenny Cooper is back in MLS as a member of the Portland Timbers. The Timbers get a proven MLS striker and something of a name; Cooper gets a chance to play regularly and return to the form that attracted so much European attention in the first place.

U.S. Under-20 national team striker Bobby Wood was one of the standouts of the recent U-20 camp, and his stellar form has helped earn him a place on the 1860 Munich first team.

Wood joins the first team just a week after 1860 Munich parted ways with another American striker, Kenny Cooper, who has signed with the Portland Timbers.

David Yelldell and MSV Duisburg fought back from a one-goal halftime deficit to earn a point one the road in the final minutes against 1860 Munich in a game which also saw American youngster Bobby Wood make his professional debut for the hosts as a second-half substitute.