As Germany prepares to kick off its World Cup campaign against Curaçao this Sunday, there’s speculation that one player could extend his stay in the United States beyond the tournament.
Sources have informed ESPN that German international and Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka is attracting interest from MLS club Chicago Fire FC.
The information also revealed that Chicago is in discussions with Goretzka’s former teammate Robert Lewandowski, with conversations reportedly in the advanced stages but not finalized for the Barcelona and Poland forward.
The sources requested anonymity, as they were not permitted to discuss the matter publicly.
The Athletic first reported these developments.
Both players are currently free agents, with their contracts set to expire at the end of the month.
Goretzka, 31, was part of Bayern from 2018 to 2022, achieving seven Bundesliga titles and one Champions League during his successful eight seasons with the club, making 312 appearances across all competitions. He previously played for Vfl Bochum and Schalke 04, and has represented Germany 70 times at the international level.
Lewandowski, 37, has been one of Europe’s top strikers for nearly 20 years, achieving success with clubs like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Lech Poznan, and Borussia Dortmund. He boasts over 900 club appearances, scoring 662 goals, and netted 19 times in 46 matches across all competitions last season with Barcelona.
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If the Fire manages to sign both players, it will require some creative financial maneuvering, as they currently have only one Designated Player (DP) slot available. However, since both players would be joining midseason, it’s conceivable that one of the contracts could be structured to avoid counting as a DP this season, similar to how Inter Miami approached Rodrigo De Paul‘s signing in 2025.