ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: Steven Gerrard confirms MLS future | Canadian prospect nears deal to enter SuperDraft

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Kick Off: Steven Gerrard confirms MLS future | Canadian prospect nears deal to enter SuperDraft

Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about today:

1. GERRARD CONFIRMS MOVE

It's just a matter of time before another big name from the English Premier League joins the ranks of Major League Soccer. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard officially confirmed that he's heading stateside this summer and several reports point to the Liverpool captain signing for the LA Galaxy. Wherever he ends up playing, Zinedine Zidane thinks he'll be a hit in MLS.

2. LARIN CLOSE TO MLS DEAL?

Seattle Sounders academy forward Jordan Morris may have opted to stay at Stanford for his junior year, but Canadian international and UConn sophomore Cyle Larin has reportedly agreed in principal to sign a Generation adidas contract and enter the MLS SuperDraft. Meanwhile, the process of signing college seniors to contracts before this week's adidas MLS Player Combine appears well underway.

3. FAGUNDEZ SET TO COMMIT TO URUGUAY

The door appears to be closing fast on the slim hopes of Diego Fagundez playing for the US national team, as the New England Revolution midfielder has been named to Uruguay's final squad for the upcoming South American Youth Championships, the qualifying tournament for the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup . If Fagundez plays in the tournament, he will be cap-tied to Uruguay.

4. US UNDER-20s GET READY

On the US side, the CONCACAF U-20 Championship is fast approaching, and Tab Ramos' training camp in Florida came to a successful conclusion with a 6-0 win over a South Florida select team and a 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago. And on Monday morning Ramos named his 20-man qualifying roster, as did his counterpart with Canada. Orlando City DP Bryan Rochez will also be playing in Jamaica.

5. PREPARING FOR THE OLYMPICS

Youth teams are certainly a priority for Jurgen Klinsmann; the US national team head coach himself said his top priority for 2015 is making sure the Under-23 Olympic squad is preparedto successfully qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To that end,expect to see plenty of young faces in Klinsmann's January camp.

6. SHEA'S IN FOR JANUARY

One specific player Klinsmann singled out for praise was Brek Shea, with the US head coach praising his move to Orlando City because "he made that decision himself." Indeed, with Shea now enjoying an offseason rest, he seems certain for a call-up to the USA's senior January training camp.

7. 'KEEPERS ON THE MOVE?

As well as being one of three D.C. United players in consideration for that same US January training camp, it looks like Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Bill Hamid is starting to attract plenty of attention from Europe. Sticking with East Coast goalkeepers, is Rais Mbolhi's time in Philadelphia already coming to an end?

8. NYCFC COMMITTED

The recent news about Frank Lampard's extended stay with Manchester City caused plenty of debate and in an interview with SI.com, MLS Commissioner Don Garber has moved to reassure New York City FC fans of the owners' commitment to the league.

9. EVERYONE AFTER DEFOE

While it seems that QPR may have been reportedly priced out of a move for Toronto FC's Jermain Defoe, the English striker seems a man in demand, with the English press suggesting he could be moving to Liverpool on a short-term deal or perhaps joining up with Leicester City.

10. DONEIL HENRY DEPARTS; WILL DERO RETURN?

One Toronto FC player who definitely will not be back with the club for preseason is Doneil Henry after the Canadian international officially signed for West Ham United in the English Premier League. However, while Henry departs, is there still a chance that TFC fans could see Dwayne De Rosario again?

11. PRESEASON PLANS

As well as heading down to Austin, Texas, could FC Dallas also be heading to Florida for part of their preseason? That's what a report from Sweden claims and it lists D.C. United as well as Swedish side Jonkoping Sodra IF as participating in the yet unidentified tournament.

12. CREW SC NEED A NEW ASSISTANT

Columbus Crew SC are on the lookout for a new assistant coach after Robert Maaskant left the role last Friday in order to take up the manager's job with Dutch Eredivisie side NAC Breda. Maaskant himself stated that, while it was a tough decision, an opportunity to return to his home country was too much to turn down.

13. SOUNDERS NEW ASSISTANT?

The Seattle Sounders may have found a new assistant coach of their own to replace Ezra Hendrickson, who is now in charge of Sounders 2 in USL PRO. Former MLS great and current LA Galaxy Under-18 academy coach Ante Razov is reportedly the man for the job, according to multiple Galaxy academy players.

14. FA CUP WINNERS AND LOSERS

It was generally a good weekend for American based in England, where the latest round in the FA Cup was played. Things were positive for the likes of Geoff Cameron and Brad Guzan, as Stoke City and Aston Villa advanced. But Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest weren't as lucky.

15. RIP STUART SCOTT

The sports world lost one of the great ones on Sunday when ESPN anchor Stuart Scott passed away at the age of 49 after a seven-year battle with cancer. While many prominent soccer figures were among those sending out condolences, ESPN put out an incredibly moving tribute, as did Scott's former Sportscenter partner, Rich Eisen.

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