The Chicago Fire are in preliminary talks with defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy over the rights to Robbie Rogers, club President of Soccer Operations Javier Leon confirmed on Tuesday.
“The Galaxy is officially interested in getting his rights, in having the right to sign him,” said Leon during a team conference call. “We’re going to have a conversation with them about what it would take to consider giving up on a player that we feel strongly would be a starter on our team.
“If at this moment the Galaxy are going to say they want him, we would expect to get a similar value. Therefore we will speak to them and we’ll listen to what they have to stay.”
Rogers has been informally training with the Galaxy just two months after announcing he is gay and was “stepping away” from soccer. The former United States international was released by Leeds United in January after a loan spell at Stevenage.
In February, the Fire obtained Rogers’ rights along with midfielder Dilly Duka in a trade that sent Ghanaian forward Dominic Oduro to the Columbus Crew. Rogers is not under contract with the club or Major League Soccer.
The Chicago Fire hold Rogers' Major League Soccer rights, meaning the Galaxy would need to work out a trade in order to sign him.
Added Leon: “That was our rationale. It wasn’t ‘let’s get some sort of chip that we can use for some value’. In that particular case, it was looking at our team and figuring out in this particular case it was how is this guy going to fit our needs and make us better.”
FOXSoccer.com's wire services contributed to this report.
