<
>

LA Galaxy pursuing former Hearts captain, U.S. international Kitchen - sources

The LA Galaxy are pursuing the signature of holding midfielder Perry Kitchen from Danish side Randers FC, multiple sources tell ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle.

The 25-year-old joined Randers just last July, and has since started in 17 of 19 league matches for the club, who sit bottom of the Danish Superliga. His contract has another 18 months yet to run, and it's not yet known what sort of fee -- if any -- Randers would demand.

The Galaxy are coming off a season in which they finished bottom of the Western Conference and second from last in all of Major League Soccer. Last month, LA declined its option on 36-year-old U.S. international Jermaine Jones, as well as fellow midfielders Rafael Garcia, Raul Mendiola and Jaime Villarreal.

Kitchen could provide some bite and complement a Galaxy midfield that has promise, with Mexico star Jonathan dos Santos and U.S. international Sebastian Lletget both under contract for 2018.

D.C. United retain Kitchen's rights in MLS after he left the Black and Red for Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premiership when his contract expired following the 2015 season, meaning the Galaxy would have to trade for his rights. It's worth noting that the two clubs worked out a deal for the rights of Paul Arriola in August, which saw the Galaxy receive $500,000 in allocation money for the 22-year-old midfielder.

Joining the Edinburgh club in March of 2016, Kitchen was named captain just six months later by manager Robbie Neilson. But after Neilson was replaced by Ian Cathro in December of that year, Kitchen's role was reduced before leaving last summer after making 45 appearances for the club.

His rise in Scotland largely coincided with a look-in with the U.S. national team. He made his debut in February 2015 in a friendly against Panama, representing his country a further four times, the last of which came in another friendly against New Zealand in October of 2016.