The Morning Rekrap: July 14, 2017

Let’s take a look at some of the news and topics being discussed this week in the world of soccer.

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Anyone can play right back? But, what does Kyle Walker being sold to Manchester City in a deal worth 50 million GBP, that’s 12 trillion USD, say about the Premier League and tulips? Jonathan Wilson over at the Guardian has some thoughts.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

This Gold Cup is some of the worst soccer ever to be played, honestly CONCACAF should be embarrassed but the TV money they’re getting certainly guilds what has been a laughable tournament short on excitement, talent, or star players. The U.S. and Mexico are generally regarded as the top teams in the confederation and that’s really important. Or is it? Steve Davis at Four Four Two explains that it’s not.

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China has been dropping serious money on transfers to make the Chinese Super League one of the top in the world. The league has even made waves in the U.S. and Canada for poaching talent from MLS and swooping in and outbidding the league for transfers. But the league is trying to balance its growth as an internationally competitive league with building soccer infrastructure to compete in the World Cup. Sound familiar? MLS has often been accused of being heavy handed with the limits the owners put on themselves when it comes to paying players and other roster rules, but how does an actual totalitarian state deal with building a league? Tariq Panja at Bloomberg has some insight.

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Finally, Chuck Blazer died on Wednesday. Stephanie Yang at Stars and Stripes FC has an article about his passing.