USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner nears loan transfer to Crystal Palace: Will he get much-needed minutes?

Just one season after joining Nottingham Forest from Arsenal, United States men's national team starting goalkeeper Matt Turner may be on the move. CBS Sports' James Benge is reporting that Crystal Palace are closing in on a loan deal for the goalkeeper.

The latest from Benge on the USMNT's No. 1:

The USMNT international has dropped down to third choice at the City Ground and needs to move to a club that will offer him regular Game time if he is to establish himself in the plans of incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Palace, meanwhile, need depth behind Dean Henderson after Sam Johnstone's move to Wolves. This may not be a move that guarantees minutes for Turner but it at least puts him nearer to a starting spot.

With Turner losing the starting role at Nottingham Forest, this is a move to seek out more playing time but it's unclear how much more he'll play than during cup games. Moving from a crowded keeper room to become a primary backup is an improvement and Henderson has only once started more than 20 Premier League matches in a season, so durability is a concern. 

Pochettino is expected to take over the USMNT and with him coming there could also be new expectations for players like Turner who aren't regular starters at their clubs. It makes sense as to why Turner would move because of that, but going from one murky picture to a little bit of a clearer one where he's still not a starter doesn't make a ton of sense.

It is a move that means when he does feature for Crystal Palace, part of the USMNT defense could be in front of him in Richards and it's also one that gets Tunrner back to playing his soccer in London after initially being based there during his time with Arsenal. Things like already being settled in the city also need can help with any adjustment, but it will all comes down to minutes accumulated.

If Turner can't end up in a starting role for Crystal Palace, it opens the door for one of Ethan Horvath, Gaga Slolina or Patrick Schulte to challenge for the starting role with the USMNT. Breaking through to lead the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup, Turner has been the unquestioned starter for the national team since but that could be coming to an end.

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