It seems the Chicago Fire's extended courtship of Shaun Maloney has paid off.
According to reports in the British media, the Wigan Athletic playmaker has turned down a move to English Premier League side Leicester City in order to join the Men in Red ahead of the 2015 MLS season.
In fact, the deal could even be done in time for Maloney to join his new teammates as they report to Toyota Park for the opening of preseason activities on Sunday.
“We've agreed terms with Chicago Fire for Shaun to leave imminently, so that is something that is going to be happening in the next day or so,” Wigan manager Malky Mackay told BBC Radio Manchester on Friday.
Maloney, who turns 32 on Saturday, is a diminutive attacking dynamo with 37 caps and four goals for Scotland. He is reportedly set to ink a Designated Player deal with the Fire, which would make him the third DP on Chicago's roster alongside fellow newcomers David Accam and Kennedy Igboananike, both of whom signed last month.
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Both the BBC and ChicagoNow.com report that Wigan have received a transfer fee for Maloney, who began his career in the youth academy of Glasgow giants Celtic FC. He would become the second Latics player to depart for MLS this winter, following Roger Espinoza's return to Sporting Kansas City earlier this month.
“There's a financial situation and I'm respectful of the club's position – I've got to be prudent in terms of the saving that we will make on Shaun's wages and the transfer fee that can then be put to other things,” said Mackey, whose Wigan squad are presently mired in the relegation zone of the Championship, England's second division.
