MLS side Charlotte keen to lure Jack Byrne to USA

Shamrock Rovers and Republic of Ireland midfielder Jack Byrne could be set for a move to Major League Soccer outfit Charlotte FC.

RTÉ Sport understands that Byrne is aware of the interest and is waiting to see how the situation evolves before the MLS transfer window closes on Monday. It is anticipated that Charlotte will return with a third bid for the playmaker.

Byrne has been linked with a switch to Charlotte before. In August 2021, he considered moving to the club when his time at Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia was coming to an end.

The42 reported on Wednesday that the American club have made two offers for the 26-year-old; both have been rejected by the reigning SSE Airtricity League Premier Division champions.

Charlotte's Italian head coach Christian Lattanzio has a good relationship with Byrne from when the pair were at Manchester City - Lattanzio as a coach in the Sky Blues' academy set-up, Byrne as a rising talent.

Byrne ultimately chose to return to the Hoops from APOEL rather than head Stateside but speaking to the RTÉ Soccer Podcast in December 2021, he said: "I know Christian, I'd be in contact with Christian loads since I left Man City. He's a good friend.

"They're a new franchise, they've just been set up so maybe the timing wasn't great on that one. Who knows, some day maybe it'll come around again. He's always been a great help to me in my career.

"He knows the type of player I am, he knows the environment that I'd do well in.

"It's a conversation that could come up again maybe in the future. "

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