Chicago Fire have had encouraging talks with Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski about moving to Major League Soccer.
The Polish star’s contract at Barcelona runs out at the end of the season, and Chicago Fire want to sign the 37-year-old next summer. Sources say Lewandowski is open to the move and that his wages are not expected to be a problem.
He still has other choices, including staying at Barcelona or moving to Saudi Arabia, but a switch to MLS is seen as a strong option.
Chicago Fire have placed Lewandowski on their MLS “discovery list,” which gives them first rights to sign him. This means no other MLS club can negotiate with him unless they pay Chicago a fee. Although Inter Miami have been linked with him, they cannot talk to him while he is on that list, putting Chicago Fire in the lead if he chooses to move to the US.
Inter Miami do have a free designated player spot after Jordi Alba retired following their first-ever MLS Cup win this month.
Chicago Fire have been targeting Lewandowski for at least six months and see him as a key signing, helped by the fact that Chicago has the largest Polish community in the United States.
Lewandowski’s wife, Anna, also visited Chicago last month while in the US.
Since joining Barcelona in 2022, Lewandowski has scored 109 goals in 164 games and won La Liga twice. This season, he has scored eight goals in 17 matches, helping Barcelona move four points clear at the top of the league.
