LAST UPDATE | 19 Apr 2023
SHAMROCK ROVERS ARE battling to keep hold of Jack Byrne after the club rejected two bids from Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer (MLS).
The 42 has learned that an offer for the Ireland international, worth a considerable six-figure sum, arrived over the weekend but was turned down by the Hoops hierarchy before a second was also declined.
Rovers are determined to keep hold of their 26-year-old talisman as they bid for a fourth League of Ireland Premier Division title in a row, but it’s understood that talks are ongoing this afternoon between the club and the player’s agent about the feasibility of the transfer being sanctioned before the MLS Primary Transfer Window closes this Monday, 24 April.
Sources at Tallaght Stadium have acknowledged that they now face a serious struggle to keep Byrne in Dublin as the package for a player who is out of contract at the end of this season is believed to be considerable.
A third bid may be forthcoming and could speed up proceedings prior to Rovers’ Dublin derby with St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday.
Charlotte first showed interest in Byrne in 2021 when he was returning for a second stint with Rovers following an injury-troubled spell with APOEL in Cyprus.
The American side are struggling near the foot of MLS, just three points off bottom side Montreal and their manager, Christian Lattanzio, is keen to be reunited with a player he first worked with during their days together at Manchester City.