EXCLUSIVE: Chicago Fire want Ferdinand to be their Beckham



Chicago Fire want to make Rio Ferdinand the new David Beckham of Major League Soccer.



The American team are desperate for a high-profile English player to enable them to compete with Beckham’s LA Galaxy, and have identified Ferdinand as their main target.

High-profile: Rio Ferdinand would attract a wage similar to the £120,000-a-week he earns at Old Trafford

Injury-hit: Ferdinand has seen his recent career plagued by concerns about his back

Ferdinand will be 33 next month and is out of contract at Manchester United at the end of next season.



Chicago want the England defender to join them next summer and believe they can persuade him to turn his back on the Barclays Premier League to finish his career in the States.

The former Leeds and West Ham favourite has struggled with injury for the last three years and has been left out of the England squad that flies to Montenegro for their final Euro 2012 qualifier.



Trailblazer: David Beckham joined LA Galaxy in 2007

Lower US tax rates mean that Chicago would be able to ensure that Ferdinand’s take-home pay would be similar to the money he earns from his £120,000-a-week Old Trafford deal.



Ferdinand is determined to make Fabio Capello’s squad for next summer’s finals in Poland and Ukraine, but faces competition from Gary Cahill and clubmates Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.



Ferdinand is understood to be aware of interest from America and has not ruled out a move at some stage.



If he were to leave United next summer, there would also be interest from Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.