Duncan McGuire chased by English duo

The Orlando City forward featured in the recent USMNT training camp and is one of the most promising young forwards in MLS.

William GittinsWillGittUpdate: Jan 30th, 2024 10:16 EST

RONALD CORTESAFP

Orlando City have strengthened well over the off-season but now, with little over three weeks to go until their MLS opener, they look set to lose a key star.

Duncan McGuire was one of the breakout stars of 2023, hitting 15 goals in his first season as a professional. The 22-year-old has a fierce shot, speed, strength, and, most recently, major interest from England.

As the January transfer window draws to a close, McGuire finds himself the subject of repeated offers from Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers in the second tier of English soccer.

🚨 Sheffield Wednesday will make final, improved offer for Duncan McGuire today.Orlando City have deadline for today because McGuire needs to fly to the UK tonight for the deal to be completed in time. Decision now up to player. https://t.co/etdJr4VYAs

— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) January 30, 2024

It had been reported that Blackburn had an offer worth around $3 million accepted. However on Tuesday Sheffield Wednesday were expected to offer a final, improved offer with just one day remaining of the English transfer window. Both Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday find themselves at the wrong end of the Championship in England, but are looking to add firepower to their attacks.

Orlando look willing to sell McGuire for an offer of that size so the final say may come down to the player, who has previously confirmed his ambition to play in Europe.

“The goal is always to get eventually over to Europe and test my skills over there with some top-quality teams and players,” McGuire said back in October. “That’s the end goal, but as of right now I’m just focused on what’s ahead of me.”

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Orlando look to build on recent growth

The 2023 season was a record-breaking one for Orlando as the team secured the highest MLS points total (63) in club history. They were second in the running for the Supporters’ Shield and played an attractive style under Óscar Pareja.

With an attacking trident of Facundo Torres, Mauricio Pereyra and Iván Angulo behind McGuire, they caused problems for even the most parsimonious of MLS defences. After losing to eventual MLS Cup winners Columbus Crew in the playoffs, they wasted little time and began strengthening early in the off-season.

DUNCAN MCGUIRE. SPECIAL. ☄️ pic.twitter.com/YKwTxEB6rB

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 21, 2023

Angulo’s loan from Brazilian giants Corinthians was made permanent. Veteran playmaker Nicolás Lodeiro arrived from Seattle Sounders, with whom he won two MLS Cups. They even had time to find a new naming partner for their downtown stadium, although that decision was not without controversy.