American Exports: Loan offers enticing Milan's Onyewu

AMSTERDAM— Outcast AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu could reverse course and accept a winter loan spell for the sake of more playing time, MLSsoccer.com has learned.

Until now, the US star had refused repeated offers of more playing time elsewhere, but sources close to the situation indicate that loan offers may force a decision from Onyewu soon.

Though the center back's agent would not confirm the change in attitude toward a stint away from San Siro, he did admit to taking several recent enquiries around Europe.

“There's a lot of interest from clubs wanting to take him on loan,” Lyle Yorks told MLSsoccer.com."It's something, in the coming weeks, that I think he's going to make a decision on it."

Various reports have Palermo, Rangers and former club Standard Liège making loan offers for Onyewu. Italian tabloids have also linked his name with Bari, Chievo, Fiorentina and Parma in recent months. FC Cologne and Wolfsburg were also briefly mentioned as potential suitors in Germany during the fall.

Nevertheless, Yorks says his client would not want to stray too far from Milan.

"There's interest in all those countries,"said the agent."But his first preference would be to stay in Italy."

Having missed a large part of last season to a knee injury, Onyewu has struggled mightily for playing time with Milan. He made but one Champions League sub appearances last term and new manager Massimiliano Allegri has yet to call on the American.

Last summer, Onyewu was the target of widespread loan interest, but opted to fight for a place at Milan. The 28-year-old is contracted to the Rossoneri until the summer of 2013.

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