Xherdan Shaqiri ‘edging towards a shock MLS move to Chicago Fire’ with the ex-Liverpool star set to end his Lyon NIGHTMARE just six months after joining the French club, who want to sell the £9.5million recruit to ease their financial woes
- Xherdan Shaqiri is reportedly on the verge of a move to MLS side Chicago Fire
- The former Liverpool winger only signed for Lyon in August after leaving Anfield
- But he has failed to impress in France, only scoring two goals in 11 appearances
- Now Lyon want to shift him on amid their financial problems off the pitch
- And the MLS claim Chicago are on the verge of securing a deal for Shaqiri
Xherdan Shaqiri is reportedly set to end his Lyon nightmare and secure a shock switch to the MLS just six months after joining the French club from Liverpool.
Shaqiri, 30, called time on his three-year stay with the Reds last summer after falling out of favour under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Having been afforded just five Premier League starts by Klopp last season, the Switzerland international moved to Lyon with the hope of reviving his stuttering career.
Yet so far in France he has failed to impress, only starting nine of Lyon’s 23 Ligue 1 outings and producing a return of two goals and three assists in 11 appearances.
Xherdan Shaqiri is set to end his Lyon nightmare and secure a shock switch to the MLS
French outlet L’Equipe reported at the end of December that the club are now looking to move the £9.5million signing on amid their financial woes off the pitch, with Swiss outfit Sion initially mooted as the frontrunners to sign him.
However, US club Chicago Fire have since emerged as potential suitors for Shaqiri, according to the official MLS website.
The MLS revealed on Friday that Chicago are ‘nearing a deal’ to prise Shaqiri away from Lyon after entering ‘advanced stages’ of talks with the Ligue 1 side.
It is believed they will fork out around £6million for the player, who still has over two years remaining on his current contract at the Groupama Stadium.
Shaqiri only sealed a move to Lyon back in August after calling time on his stay at Liverpool
But after failing to impress for the French club, he is now set for a move to Chicago Fire
Should he sign for Chicago as expected, Shaqiri will become one of the club’s designated players.
Each MLS club is able to sign three designated players who do not count against the league’s hard salary cap, which is used commonly in American sports to help create a balanced division.
In Shaqiri, Chicago will be acquiring a multiple Premier League, Bundesliga and Champions League winner.
The winger scored 17 goals in 81 appearances for Bayern Munich, helping them clinch three German titles and the Champions League, before later heading to Liverpool and adding the Premier League and another European Cup to his collection with a tally of eight goals in 63 outings.
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