Xherdan Shaqiri moves to MLS after failing to impress at Lyon

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.

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.

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.