AMSTERDAM - Erstwhile FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham is set to embark on a training visit with a Tippeligaen outfit in Norway next week, but his agent says the MLS veteran is still hoping to join the Columbus Crew.
The Crew recently picked up rights to their old hand in the second stage of the Re-Entry Draft. The 34-year old began his MLS career by netting 62 goals in 182 regular season appearances for Columbus.
"He's about to head over to train with a top flight Norwegian club," Cunningham rep Jan Schiefloe told MLSsoccer.com. "He's scheduled to be there a week."
The agent says his client also has a visit planned for Denmark the following week, with either Randers FC or another SAS Liga team.
"We are still waiting on final confirmation from Randers," Schiefloe said.
However, Randers chief scout Peter Christiansen told MLSsoccer.com that Cunningham was not a serious target for them at this time.
"I spoke to his agent and we discussed a few different things, but he is not someone we are interested in right now," he stated. "We certainly know of him. He's scored a lot of goals in MLS."
While a stall in discussions with the Crew has compelled Cunningham to seek out a few European opportunities, his agent says that, as things stand, the striker is most eager to be back in MLS next season.
"We are still talking with Columbus," said Schiefloe. "Jeff's first preference is MLS."
The Crew did not return emails seeking comment from MLSsoccer.com on Monday, but technical director Brian Bliss told the Columbus Dispatch late last month that the club “made an offer that was rejected and he made a counterproposal that was a bit far-fetched.”
Cunningham - who has also suited up for the Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC - finished the 2010 season with 11 goals in 27 games. He currently stands 132 strikes for his career, one shy of all-time leading MLS scorer Jaime Moreno.
A Jamaican-born US international with 14 caps, Cunningham has in previous years entertained European interest from the likes of AGF Aarhus, Auxerre, Club Brugge, Eintracht Frankfurt and Reading.
