Chicago Fire are in talks over a surprise move to bring Brazil striker Neymar to Major League Soccer.
The 32-year-old is out of contract with Al-Hilal in the summer after two years in the Saudi Pro League.
The Eastern Conference side would be able to make the deal work financially and negotiations are continuing with the Pro League and Neymar’s representatives, but sources have told BBC Sport the transfer is not close to being done and remains complicated.
Neymar will not be registered for the second half of the Saudi season and it is now up to the player to make a decision on where he wants to play.
The MLS transfer window opens from 31 January until 23 April.
Fire had Neymar on their Discovery List. MLS clubs can have up to five players on their list, meaning no other side in the league can speak to, or sign, Neymar unless Chicago agree.
Neymar joined Al-Hilal from Paris St-Germain in 2023 for a league-record £77million but he has made just seven appearances, scoring one goal.
The former Barcelona striker tore his cruciate knee ligament in October 2023, which kept him out for a year.
Former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are in the MLS with Inter Miami, who won the Eastern Conference last season, with Fire bottom.
Al-Hilal are top of the Pro League, ahead of Al-Ittihad on goal difference, after beating Al-Fateh 9-0 on Thursday.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo all currently play for the leaders.