After his side's relegation from the Championship this season, Wigan Athletic winger James McClean is considering a move to MLS side New York Red Bulls. The Republic of Ireland international is reported to have touched down in the Big Apple which has helped to increasingly fuel speculation of his departure from the Lancashire side.
Following the slide down from the Premier League and European football just 18 months ago, McClean now finds himself on the edge of playing third-tier English football for the first time of his career. The 26 year-old has just one year remaining on his Wigan Athletic contract and with Jesse Marsch's Red Bull side keen to sign the Irishman, McClean is strongly contemplating a move to the West.
Should the winger make the move, he will follow in the footsteps of a number of other players who have switched to the MLS, a league that seems be growing at a very fast pace in the world of global football. World stars such as Rafael Marquez and David Villa have made the move, along with more notable former Premier League players such as Thierry Henry, fellow Irishman Robbie Keane and more recently former England internationals Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
However, Wigan manager Gary Caldwell will be hoping to keep hold of the former Sunderland man as he looks to guide The Latics to an immediate return to the Championship following their dismal season. Caldwell's side were relegated to the third-tier after managing to win just nine of their 46 league fixtures in a campaign full of controversy which saw two managerial dismissals along side the resignation of chairman Dave Whelan.