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Jozy Altidore is seemingly edging closer towards an exit from Sunderland.
The 25-year-old joined the club from AZ Alkmaar and has been largely disappointing during his time on Wearside, four years after an equally poor time in the Premier League with Hull City.
It was hoped that Gustavo Poyet's arrival may spark a turnaround in form for the American but it has sadly not proven to be the case.
Strongly linked with a move to Lille in the summer, it was thought the French side would return in January with a fresh offer after Sunderland spurned their first attempt.
Now ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman has revealed that three separate teams in Major League Soccer are interested in taking the forward home. A number of high profile U.S. Internationals have returned to their domestic league recently including Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey.
Multiple sources tell me Jozy Altidore and @MLS are in discussions about his return this winter with 3 teams applying. #TFC #RBNY #POR
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) January 7, 2015
However Altidore has not always spoken positively about a return to Major League Soccer, tweeting the LA Galaxy back in November, Altidore said: "really? (sic) Stop blowing up my agents phone then. No means no."
Twellman cites Altidore's former club the New York Red Bulls, the Portland Timbers and Canadian outfit Toronto FC as being the three interested parties. The league rules on returning American internationals make for confusing reading, particularly after the recent situation regarding Jermaine Jones and a blind draw between Chicago Fire and New England Revolution.
In terms of the financials of the deal, it is likely Sunderland would receive just under half of the £6million they paid Alkmaar for Altidore's services, and he would sign the much coveted ‘Designated Player' deal.
Brazilian midifelder Kaka remains the most highly paid player in MLS at present, with Dempsey and Bradley just behind him. With Twellman citing multiple sources, it would seem there is some weight behind this.