Shamrock Rovers are confident they have fended off Charlotte FC's interest in Jack Byrne ahead of tomorrow's derby clash with St Pat's.
The Hoops look poised to retain the Ireland international - who is out of contract at the end of the season - having knocked back two official bids from MLS side Charlotte FC.
One was a paltry five-figure sum and the other a notable improvement but still well short of the league’s record fee - when Celtic paid Rovers almost €600k for Liam Scales - and spread over a number of years.
Byrne, 26, who has a long held desire to play in America, trained with the Hoops today and is expected to be included in the match day squad for Richmond Park.
The MLS international transfer deadline is on Monday and while a final Charlotte bid cannot be ruled out tomorrow, it looks highly unlikely now.
Managed by Byrne’s ex-Manchester City youth coach Christian Lattanzio, Charlotte know they would have to up the ante considerably and also shelve plans to structure any deal over a number of years.
Charlotte are struggling this season and sit second bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference, just three points clear of Montreal.
They have one win in their last eight games and after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Colorado, Lattanzio said: “This team needs some help. We want competition in every position.
“But this team is also fighting and doesn’t give up. Even when we’re conceding goals, we try to play.”
Shamrock Rovers have designs on reaching Europe's group stages again this year, where millions of euros are on offer in prize money and Byrne will be key to that push.
Out of contract at the end of the year, Byrne will be free to discuss pre-contracts with other clubs this summer but extension talks with Rovers will be on the agenda.
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