Manchester United and former Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger is in talks to join Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, multiple league sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.
Last Friday, The Express released photos of Schweinsteiger meeting with Fire manager Veljko Paunovic, but a league source cautioned that while talks have begun, the have not progressed very far at the moment.
The German international has been frozen out by United manager Jose Mourinho this season and was even humiliated by being sent to train with the reserves before a reprieve this month, but a fresh start still appears unlikely at Old Trafford.
The pair dined at an Italian restaurant in Cheshire and the 32-year-old, upon leaving, told photographers that he had "not heard anything about that," when quizzed about whether the Red Devils would pay him off in January.
A source also confirmed that Chicago has Schweinsteiger's discovery rights, which give it first priority among MLS sides to sign the Germany and former Bayern Munich legend.
Schweinsteiger joined Manchester United in 2015 as part of Louis van Gaal's attempt to reconstruct the club's midfield. But he suffered through an injury-hit campaign, and made only 18 league appearances last season.