It's now nearly six months since Robbie Keane left LA Galaxy after five seasons at the club.
Keane said at the time of his departure that he still wanted one last 'major challenge' in club football. The 36-year-old was linked with a number of clubs including some in the US, Preston in the Championship and A-League sides Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar.
None of those moves materialised. Keane has been maintaining his fitness by training with Shamrock Rovers in recent weeks.
According to the Mark McCadden in today's Irish Daily Star, though he initially turned down overtures from Western Sydney shortly after he left MLS, Keane has since become more enthusiastic about a move Down Under.
That interest has reportedly not been reciprocated by the A-League side. A source told the Irish Daily Star that Keane's age - he'll be 37 in July - and a lack of game time since leaving LA now count against him.
Keane and his family do now appear more open to moves further afield. The former Ireland captain's wife, Claudine, spoke to 2FM on Wednesday about her husband's next landing spot.
Initially when we left LA I thought I’d like England but now that I’ve been home for a little while I’m looking at the bigger picture.
I know nothing is forever and this is just the way it is for a few years. You take the opportunity and you grasp it. Now I’m much more open. I think I was closed off initially.
Sydney came in and I just thought, ‘No, please I can’t go to Sydney now. That other flight was bad with two kids, you can’t put me on this flight. I’m going to crack up altogether. Now I’m approaching it differently and he is too.
I think it’s going to be like most moves, a bit last minute.
Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile
