According to multiple reports, Landon Donovan is asking his MLS employers, the L.A. Galaxy, to extend his loan stay at Everton.

“I have told Galaxy what I want; they know what’s going on and I speak to my manager there often,” Donovan told the Telegraph. “Both clubs know how I feel, which is that I would like to stay, though I can’t end the season here, I’d have to go back April 15 at the latest.

“If that can be worked out, great. If not, then the Galaxy are my team and I’m very grateful for the chance I had here. It would be bittersweet either way.”

Of course, you might have seen Bruce Arena’s comment on the matter:

“We’re not interested,” he said of a possible extension to the loan. “Landon will be back here March 15. We’re being consistent with everything we’ve said all along.”

Now, a work stoppage would change things, but it looks like Donovan’s weekend game with the Toffees could be his last – for a while.

And while I hate that he can’t stay a little longer, if I were Bruce Arena, I’d have the same attitude.

On with the show

While the league and players union meet in Washington D.C. to hammer out their respective collective bargaining issues, there is a meaningful game tonight.

The Columbus crew hosts Toluca in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal tonight at 8 p.m. (FSC).

A quick check of the posted odds tells us that Toluca are favored, and when you consider that the Mexican side is in-season, it’s not tough to see why.

In addition, the Crew will be without Frankie Hedjuk and Guillermo Barros Schelotto through suspension and Chad Marshall is out of action with a hamstring injury.