Report: Chicago Fire interested in attacking midfielder Michael de Leeuw

Transfer Rumors

Are the Chicago Fire looking overseas to fill a high-profile attacking midfield slot?


That's the word from Fire Confidential, who reported on Wednesday that the Fire are looking at Dutch midfielder Michael de Leeuw to be the apparent replacement for Harry Shipp, who the club traded to Montreal over the weekend.


De Leeuw, 29, has spent his entire career to date in the Netherlands, and currently features for FC Groningen, where he was a teammate of new Fire defender Johan Kappelhof. He has six goals so far this season for Groningen and scored 17 last season for the club in league play.


While de Leeuw is identified as one target by Fire Confidential's Guillermo Rivera, the report notes the club is still looking at multiple options ahead of the 2016 season, which begins Mar. 6 at home against NYCFC (2 pm ET, MLS LIVE).