Any new offers – or increased offers from the clubs which have already made bids for the Melbourne City midfielder – could result in Mooy needing more time to make up his mind on where he is going to play next season.
But it is a headache any player would love to have and the timing of the game at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland early on Saturday (AEST) is perfect for the 25 year-old because he is yet to commit to a club at this stage.
Mooy has been sifting through bids since the A-League season ended and his plan is to get Australia’s next three internationals out of the way before he makes a final call on where he is going to play.
After the England game the Socceroos will return to Australia for two games against Greece, at ANZ Stadium on 4 June and Etihad Stadium on 7 June.
Mooy is certain to start against England and the game is also shaping up as a wonderful opportunity for Brisbane Roar striker Jamie Maclaren, who is with the Socceroos for the first time.
Maclaren is reportedly set to start the game with Robbie Kruse up front as part of a 4-4-2 combination employed by coach Ange Postecoglou.
The World Game understands many of the European club scouts attending the game will be there to assess Mooy as a priority, but that there will be some with a keen interest in Maclaren as well.
And if Maclaren manages to impress and maybe even score a goal then that interest will increase dramatically.
Maclaren, like Mooy, has long held an ambition to make it in Europe. And, again like Mooy, who played for St Mirren in Scotland, Maclaren has had a taste of football in the UK as a youngster.
As a 15 year-old, Maclaren trialled successfully for the Blackburn Rovers under-16 squad and ended up in the club’s under-21 squad. He also played two games for Scotland under-19s, but when he hadn’t yet broken into Blackburn’s firsts team he was released at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
Maclaren returned to Australia as a 19 year-old and resolved to build up his career through the A-League, which he has done superbly at, first, Perth Glory, and then Brisbane.
He turns just 23 years old on July 29, so there is need for him to rush to Europe for what may not be the right offer and another season in the A-League would be good for him anyway.
But if he was to do well against England and an attractive offer came as a result of that, then it would be no surprise if he was tempted to take it.
Mooy, who turns 26 in September, has to make the move to Europe now and it has been clear for quite some time that he would go.
Last season was not only a great one for Mooy in the A-League, but also at international level with the Socceroos. His rise there has been meteoric.
Mooy wasn’t even picked to play in the Asian Cup at the start of 2015, but then Postecoglou gave him his Australia debut as a substitute against Germany in March and five days later he started against Macedonia.
After not being picked for the first World Cup qualifying game against Krygyzstan, Mooy has started in each of the seven games since, in 2015 and this year, and it has become clear from watching Australia in their recent matches that he has become the most important player in the side.
