TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Report
The Chicago Fire are edging closer to re-signing Bastian Schweinsteiger, a source familiar with the negotiations told MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday.
The source said that the Fire are expecting to come to terms on a new deal with the German legend, who left Manchester United to sign a season-long deal with Chicago last March.
The two parties are discussing a contract that would be for the 2018 season with a club option for 2019. The source didn’t know specifics of a potential salary, but said that all negotiations have Schweinsteiger remaining a Designated Player.
Schweinsteiger, 33, was a critical piece in the Fire’s 2017 turnaround, recording three goals and six assists in 24 regular-season games to help the club place third in the Supporters’ Shield standings after finishing last in the league in 2016 and 2015.
While he had a solid debut season in MLS, Schweinsteiger was hampered by injury late in the year. He played just one of the Fire’s final seven regular-season matches and was forced to come off the bench in their 4-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls in the Knockout Round of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs due to a calf strain.
Prior to signing with Manchester United in 2015, Schweinsteiger spent 13 years with Bayern Munich, where he made 342 appearances and won seven Bundesliga titles and one UEFA Champions League crown. He recorded 124 career appearances and won the 2014 World Cup with Germany before retiring from international play following Euro 2016.
