The 20 clubs in Major League Soccer will convene in Baltimore on Thursday for the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. 

Last season's draft produced one of the league's top scorers in Orlando City's Cyle Larin as well as instant contributors Matt Polster, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Tim Parker and Axel Sjoberg. 

The 2016 edition of the SuperDraft has plenty of top talent as well, with Georgetown's Joshua Yaro atop most draft boards across the league. 

As we all know, plenty of things can change in regard to the draft order before teams begin to select players on Thursday, but based on the current draft order and specific team needs, we tried to make 10 bold predictions for the happenings at the Baltimore Convention Center. 

Among the predictions are a surprise signing, a defender with a rising stock and trade speculation about a spot in the top 10.

Continue reading to see what our 10 bold predictions are for the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.

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With the MLS Draft Combine underway and the top players in the country being put under the microscope, the league's franchises are hoping to identify the players who will lead them to success for years to come.

That means it's time to break down this year's draft order and a first-round mock draft while taking a closer look at some of the top prospects available to teams this year.

Joshua Yaro, RB/CB, Georgetown

Joshua Yaro is an interesting case. He's an incredibly talented, bright and ambitious young man and was the rock of Georgetown's defense this year. He also handled the announcement that he would be going pro with his usual class:

But he's also considered a 'tweener by many scouts, who aren't sure where his natural position might be at the next level.

Steven Goff of the Washington Post broke down the player most believe will be the top overall pick:

Yaro is a center back with vision and speed uncommon at the college level. With him marshaling the backline, the Hoyas posted six consecutive shutouts during a 14-game winning streak and rose to No. 2 in the coaches’ poll before losing to Boston College on penalty kicks in the NCAA tournament’s round of 16.

Because of Yaro’s smallish size (5 feet 11 and 163 pounds), a pro team might end up converting him to outside back.

Such is Yaro's ability that a team might even consider transitioning him into a central defensive midfielder. It probably doesn't matter where Yaro is played—he has all the makings of a difference-maker at the next level.

Thus, it would be pretty surprising if the Chicago Fire passed on him with the top overall pick.

Jack Harrison, MF, Wake Forest

Jack Harrison is the unquestioned top midfielder in this draft and is arguably the top talent, period; though, Yaro supporters would have a few things to say about that. He had a sterling freshman season for the Demon Deacons and is a pure playmaker, able to both set up his teammates with incisive passes and let rip from distance with his powerful left foot.

In a draft not stacked atop the board with talented attackers or creative midfielders, Harrison stands out in this class.

Jonathan Campbell, CB, North Carolina

Yaro has gotten most of the attention among the defenders, but Jonathan Campbell is no slouch. He has excellent athleticism for his position and is very versatile as well, as he played in both a back three and back four during his time at North Carolina.

He's also very experienced, as he played four years with the Tar Heels and won't be a wide-eyed kid as he embarks on his MLS career. What separates Campbell from many of the other players in the draft is that he doesn't have a discernible weakness. He may not quite flash like some of the other top prospects, but he also doesn't present many areas of concern.

That combination of athleticism, versatility, experience and steadiness makes him an excellent prospect and a likely top-five pick.

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The last year in Major League Soccer was one of the most successful periods in the league's history. The 2015 regular season was a massive success and bigger names continued to come over to play in North America. 

The 2015 league campaign almost didn't start on time as the owners and players agreed upon on a collective bargaining agreement two days before the first match kicked off.

Once the games began, we witnessed plenty of world-class play from stars like Sebastian Giovinco, David Villa and Kei Kamara. As the season progressed, drama began to build in anticipation of what turned out to be the most exciting postseason in league history. 

Off the pitch, the introduction of Targeted Allocation Money was a big storyline as was the midseason transfers of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo. 

We decided to wrap up the last year in MLS with a complete A to Z guide of the happenings on and off the field during the league's 20th season.

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The Major League Soccer offseason may be just over two weeks old but has seen plenty of player movement since Portland hoisted the MLS Cup on December 6. 

In the time since the offseason opened, teams have traded key members of their squads for draft picks, the league's first free agents signed and a big-name defender left the league. 

Not all of the 20 clubs in the league have been active on the player market in December, but there have been a few who have constantly appeared in the headlines. 

Since there have been plenty of notable moves since the start of the offseason, we decided to break down the key acquisitions and hand out grades to the teams involved. 

Here's a look at our grades for the top MLS offseason moves to date. 

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MLS side Montreal Impact want Didier Drogba to play for them in 2016 and see out the final part of his contract, even though they are also trying to assist his comeback to Chelsea.

According to interim Blues manager Guus Hiddink, the Premier League team is attempting to bring Drogba back to Stamford Bridge, per Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph.

Discussions are already taking place between Drogba's current employers and the club where he became a star, according to the Impact's official Twitter feed:    

It's a situation the Impact maintain they are powerless to stop:

Despite their needs, Montreal are also trying to be respectful of Drogba's obvious desire to return to the club where he won the UEFA Champions League:

Speaking of being respectful, the MLS team has praised its fans' tolerance—probably both for Drogba's wishes as well as for the Impact's willingness to indulge them:    

Law also stated that while the west London club wants to seal an early exit from Canada for Drogba, the Blues are prepared to wait until his contract officially expires. The Ivory Coast striker was initially offered terms on an 18-month contract to move to the MLS side in the summer, according to ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle.

Chelsea want Drogba back as either a club ambassador or as a member of the backroom staff, according to Law. Hiddink is keen on what Drogba could do in either role but remains aware of his situation with the Impact:

But he is playing for Montreal, under contract. All the big clubs, and the smaller ones, have these specific guys, figures, who can go into whatever they like – coach, ambassador, manager – but they must be given the opportunity to do so. They give the Chelsea brand a big image, worldwide.

Apparently, Chelsea are wary of losing a club legend the same way one of their Premier League rivals once did: "They do not want to risk losing him in the same way Arsenal allowed Patrick Vieira to take a job at Manchester City."

Bringing Drogba back is a savvy piece of PR from the Stamford Bridge club. Former manager Jose Mourinho's disastrous and acrimonious exit has left a bad taste. There have been too many negative headlines and too much distance between the players and the fans this season.

As a symbol of Chelsea's glorious past, both with and without Mourinho, Drogba is the perfect face to help herald positive change. His presence was notable during the 3-1 Premier League win over Sunderland, Chelsea's first game after Mourinho was axed.

Sat between owner Roman Abramovich and Mourinho's successor, Drogba was a reminder of the good times at Chelsea. Now the Impact might help him return to the Blues in a bigger and more official role so he can help bring the good times back to the Bridge. 

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United States men's national team midfielder Michael Bradley captured the U.S. Player of the Year Award on Friday.

The Associated Press passed along voting results from the Futbol de Primera, which saw Bradley (176 points; 39 first-place votes) earn the nod by a narrow margin over forward Clint Dempsey (145 points, 33 first-place votes). Jozy Altidore finished third with 70 voting points.

Bradley, 28, tallied three goals and six assists across 18 appearances for the American squad in 2015. He also moved into more of a leadership role for the side at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he served as the captain.

While the United States did score a couple of notable victories during the year, including away triumphs against the Netherlands and Germany, the team didn't accomplish its main goals. It finished fourth in the Gold Cup and failed to secure a FIFA Confederations Cup bid with a loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup.

After the final match of 2015, a scoreless draw with Trinidad and Tobago last month in World Cup qualifying, Bradley admitted things didn't go as planned, per Noah Davis of American Soccer Now.

"We play to win big games and on that end, we have to call a spade a spade: We came up short this year," the midfielder said.

Bradley, who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, is among several key players who's struggled to find top form in marquee matches dating back to last year's FIFA World Cup.

That didn't prevent him from winning the Player of the Year honor, though. He's also a finalist for the for 2015 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year Award alongside Dempsey, Brad Guzan, Fabian Johnson and DeAndre Yedlin.

The Americans have another busy year on tap in 2016. It kicks off with the annual January camp, which will be followed by friendlies with Iceland and Canada. The most important fixtures include more World Cup qualifiers and the Copa America Centenario, which will be held in the U.S.

Bradley will need to play a vital role if the United States is going to emerge with more notable victories than it did in 2015.  

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It's never too early to start thinking about a new season, especially with the quick turnaround between seasons in Major League Soccer. 

The 2015 campaign saw young players like Cyle Larin, Matt Polster, Kellyn Acosta and Matt Miazga burst onto the scene as potential rocks for their respective franchises for years to come. 

There are plenty of stars like the quartet mentioned above that are set to break out in 2016. We have selected five players currently 23 and under that are expected to leave a mark on the league as a whole over the next 12 months. 

We approached this list with one caveat, current college underclassmen Jordan Morris and Joshua Yaro were not considered because their respective futures are still hanging in the balance. 

With that being said, we decided to look at five players currently on MLS rosters who should be set for a stellar season when the calendar flips to 2016.

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The 2015 MLS Cup final drew poor television ratings in both the United States and Canada. It's not surprising given the size of the markets involved but it's still a major issue for the league.

However, Major League Soccer can attract more viewers next season and beyond. It just has to go about it in a more creative and effective manner.

When MLS first began in 1996, a few marquee players were signed, including Mexico international Jorge Campos and legendary Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama.

The impact of Campos joining MLS was so massive that he asked for a Ferrari in order to return, per Sports Illustrated.

MLS has tried to appeal to the Latino demographic recently. Giovani dos Santos was signed by the Galaxy, and his international teammate Carlos Vela is linked with a move to the USA, according to the official league website.

It's no coincidence that MLS' best month ratings-wise coincided with Dos Santos' arrival in LA.

Orlando City SC star Kaka is another player who has boosted TV viewership internationally. MLS announced a four-year deal with Brazilian broadcaster Globosat in March.

Gary Stevenson, MLS Business Ventures president and managing director, said as much to the official league website:

This new agreement with Globosat is further illustration of the growing demand for Major League Soccer in the global media rights marketplace.

With Flavio Augusto da Silva's ownership of Orlando City SC and with over 15 Brazilian players in MLS, including Kaká, there is clearly an increased desire for MLS content in Brazil. 

We are excited to be partnered with such a powerful brand in Globosat and are confident that together we will create even greater awareness for the sport, our clubs and our stars.

It helped that the Galaxy faced three popular teams in the Seattle Sounders, New York City FC and the Portland Timbers, but whether it was on English or Spanish cable, the ratings were a success.

If Vela lands in MLS and joins a big-market team like the Chicago Fire, that's only going to help MLS on TV, at the gate and on the field. 

The Mexican demographic in the United States is huge. If MLS signs popular players who represent the national team, it will only attract more eyeballs to television screens.

However, that's just one small step. The real concern is how to keep the casual fans engaged with MLS.

Commissioner Don Garber wants the league to be among the best by 2022. That appears to be a pipe dream at this point because of the single-entity structure.

The chances of MLS succeeding without any major investment toward player salaries are slim. Targeted allocation money and designated players aren't going to cut it.

The Chinese Super League has attracted quality players from overseas and has invested wisely after just 11 years of existence.

Forbes' Chris Smith claims that six billionaires owned a minority or majority share of an MLS franchise as of 2013.

Sheikh Mansour (New York City FC) is worth £20 billion, per the Telegraph. That increases the number to at least seven billionaire owners in MLS.

If there are so many wealthy owners across the league, surely MLS can replicate the CSL model.

If MLS invested more money in player salaries, the quality on the field would improve and the product would be significantly more appealing to watch on TV.

However, the easiest solution to MLS' television problem at the moment is scheduling changes. 

The 2015 final kicked off on a Sunday afternoon in December, which directly competed with the NFL.

It would be pointless to continue clashing with football, so Saturdays also aren't an option due to the NCAA and its hoarding of TV networks, which Philly.com's Jonathan Tannenwald pointed out:

A Wednesday-night match beginning at 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. ET would be ideal. This allows viewers in the Pacific time zone to watch the game at a decent hour, and it attracts the prime-time crowd in the East.

Shortening the playoffs may also be a wise move. This would keep fans engrossed without the international break interfering between rounds.

The strides MLS made in 2015 were positive. Univision, Fox Sports and ESPN have set TV time slots on Friday and Sunday nights for MLS games, which is a necessary step.

Now that fans know what time the nationally televised games are every week, more viewers will tune in beginning next season. 

It will be a few years until MLS eclipses Liga MX, the most-watched league in the United States. However, if Garber and his staff work with the TV networks and pitch these aforementioned resolutions, they can accelerate the process.

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Major League Soccer's 20th season was its best to date thanks to the quality of the star players spread across the 20 clubs. 

Stars like Sebastian Giovinco, David Villa, Kaka, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and more entered the league to much fanfare, but there were also plenty of American products who delivered for their respective clubs. 

Our list of the top 50 players from the 2015 season features stars from 19 of the 20 sides in the league. The Colorado Rapids were the lone team not to have anyone make the list. The New York Red Bulls led all teams with seven players, while FC Dallas, Vancouver and Portland all put four names in rankings. The balance of power between the conferences was level as well with 26 representing the Eastern Conference and 24 for the Western Conference. 

We selected the 50 players by their numbers in key statistical categories, influence on the pitch and form throughout the season. Certain players were penalized for long dips in form during the regular season. For those eligible for the postseason, playoff performances were considered, but they weren't a major factor. 

Continue reading on to see who were the best 50 players in MLS in 2015. 

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Ex-Major League Soccer manager Ray Hudson has told David Beckham to make a "monster first signing" like Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he attempts to realise his dream of creating a Miami-based franchise.

Commentator for beIN Sports, Hudson managed the Miami Fusion for a year prior to their 2001 dissolution and has advised Beckham to be bold in his recruitment for the massive task ahead, per the Sun's Jon Boon:

A player like Ibrahimovic would be a monster first signing. Those types of players are going to be available to the Beckham lure. They are going to be coming to him. They are going to be attracted to his flame.

Forget about Real Madrid, PSG, Milan. He had to show up and put his boots on and play the game — and just be Beckham. This is going to be a different environment entirely. It is monumental. This is going to be a real test and it is very easy for us all to imagine, well, it’s Beckham and his stadium, it’s the MLS — let it rock and roll!

Ibrahimovic's contract at Paris Saint-Germain is set to expire next summer, leading to speculation over whether he'll extend his stay at Parc des Princes or move on to pastures new.

Boon reported that ex-England international Beckham recently received the green light to build his £130 million stadium in a "run-down area" of Miami, paving the way for his fantasy to become a reality.

However, BBC Sport claimed in September that Beckham's plans to launch a team in time for the 2018 MLS season "had been hampered."

Ibrahimovic will be 36 years of age by the time March 2018 rolls around, bringing into question whether the Swede will be as desirable an asset by that time, although OptaJean has provided evidence of his evergreen form:

Currently 34, the PSG powerhouse continues to enjoy his football at the elite level, and Spanish magazine Don Balon even reported Chelsea are still willing to offer the forward £215,000 a week to join their cause (h/t Metro's Jamie Sanderson).

Major League Soccer is gradually moving away from its reputation as little more than a retirement league for Europe's brightest talents, and the rising form of the United States national team is perhaps indicative of that.

However, it's clear veterans still have a desire to move to America in their twilight years after Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and Steve Gerrard joined MLS clubs this year. Ibrahimovic has also spoken of his wish to join an MLS side, per the league's official website:

I think it would be an amazing experience. I see that soccer is growing a lot in US I mean, I was here 10 years ago [and] soccer was not on the level that it is today, but it's growing. It's growing in the right direction and I want it to be on the level of Europe. It will come here.

I would like to play. Which team? Am I allowed to say that? No, I cannot say that.

Boon mentioned that Florida's past two attempts to build a franchise, the Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny, both collapsed due to a lack of funding and support from the stands.

But with Beckham's potential arrival at a franchise helm, that allure could make a return to Miami, and a marquee signing such as Ibrahimovic would certainly help fill out the stadium, too.

With Beckham's dream still years from being realised at all, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid ace will have to hope Ibrahimovic doesn't scratch his MLS itch before he finishes setting up his club.

Bringing his former PSG team-mate across the pond would be not just a major coup for Beckham, but for Major League Soccer as a whole, adding an instant touch of class to a developing roster.

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