5 world-class players who could be on their way to the MLS soon

Over the course of the last decade, the MLS has established itself as a destination for world-class players believed to be in the final years of their playing careers. The likes of David Beckham, Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard, Didier Drogba and Kaka are among a handful of legendary footballers to have plied their trade in the league.

The league has inevitably gained a lot of supporters, owing to the stature of world-class players who move to the United States of America from Europe, and it has firmly established itself as a league where the world-class players go, to earn one last fat paycheck, and spend their last playing days.

So in line with the league’s strategic positioning, we have conjured a list of 5 players who could be moving to the MLS in the near future:

---

#5 Daniel Sturridge

Sturridge's time at Anfield has been blighted by numerous injuries

Let's be honest in our assessment of Daniel Sturridge. The man who was in a sensational form during the 2013-14 season, alongside a magical Luis Suarez, looks a shadow of himself.

His career has been blighted by numerous injuries that restrict him to making him just a handful of appearances for club and country every season and it has not come as a surprise to many that despite being tipped to lead the line-up for club and country, he has certainly fallen down the pecking order for both club and country.

The Englishman has started just 33 games since the end of the 2013-14 season for the Reds and it is perhaps time for the former Chelsea and Manchester City attacker to look for other avenues, and what can be more lucrative than MLS?

Yes, he turned 28 only in September and some might call it premature to say that he could be moving to MLS, a league that often inhabits the players in their final years of their footballing career.

However, he is believed to be on a cool £120K a week wages at the Merseyside club, and we fear that not a lot of English clubs would be keen to fork out such a princely sum for a player plagued by so many injuries.

The MLS on the other hand, are heavy spenders, and the pace of the game might help Sturridge stay relevant on the footballing circuit.

#4 Fernando Torres

Torres' current contract with Atletico Madrid expires in 2018 and a move to the MLS looks likely

The 33-year-old striker has returned to his boyhood club Atletico Madrid, after stints with the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, but things have been different this time around. When Torres left Atletico Madrid, he was just 23 years of age and was seen as one of the brightest young players in the footballing world.

Today, he has already justified his stature as one of the best strikers of all times and has won numerous accolades for club and country.

However, with the passage of time, it is only obvious that the striker has lost his pace and acceleration and is finding it tough to break into Los Rojiblancos and with the player moving into the final years of his footballing career, a move to MLS could work out very well for the Spaniard.

Torres is currently in the final year of his contract at Atletico Madrid and with the striker being 33 years of age, and only being employed in a bit part capacity with the club, it is very likely that Torres will be without a club in the summer and the upcoming winter transfer window could prove crucial.

If reports are to be believed then the Spaniard has already received offers from MLS clubs and a move to the United States of America could be on the cards in the transfer window to come.

#3 Wayne Rooney

Rooney could follow in the footsteps of his brother John who played in the MLS in 2011 and 2012

Yes, we know, we know that Wayne Rooney has only recently moved back to his boyhood club Everton. But, do you think Rooney prefers to go through the rigours of Premier League football after having won everything there is on offer in club football during his time at Manchester United?

Rooney himself has admitted that he might consider a move to MLS later in his career and with things not looking too bright for Everton thus far, it is perhaps time for Rooney to enjoy some time in the MLS.

Rooney is currently in the 1st of his 2-year contract at Everton, and while he still occasionally finds the back of the net and is seen as the leading creative force at the club, he is definitely no longer the Wayne Rooney who possessed the ability to torment defences, with age taking its toll on his body.

The Englishman has been linked with MLS clubs in the past as well and could gain valuable inputs on the league from his brother John Rooney who played for New York Red Bulls and Orlando City. Should he move, Rooney could follow in the footsteps of England teammates Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard who ended their professional careers in the MLS.

#2 Yaya Toure

Toure has made just 3 starts in the season thus far and looks set to leave for MLS in the coming summer.

It was not a long time ago that Yaya Toure was believed to be the best in the business. However, with the passage of time, the Ivorian has lost some of his sheen and is restricted to playing a bit-part role at the Etihad stadium (he has made just 3 starts thus far this season with 2 of them coming in the League Cup).

The appointment of Pep Guardiola was believed to be the last indication that Yaya Toure's days in Manchester were numbered and that has been the case thus far, and with the powerhouse midfielder in the final months of his contract at the club, it is largely believed that he will be on the move come summer and the 34-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the MLS.

New York City FC, Manchester City's sister concern, is the MLS club believed to be the Ivorian's next destination and this claim has further received strength from the NYCFC manager Patrick Vieira claiming age is just a number when it comes to quality players.

However, it would be interesting to note how the finances of the deal pan out. Currently Toure on a massive weekly wage of £220K and it might require a significant pay cut to bring the soon to be 35 years old midfielder aboard.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo has won everything there is on offer in England and Spain and it is perhaps time to enjoy the last few years of his career.

The Portuguese superstar is currently on a contract that binds him to Real Madrid until the end of the 2020-21 season but that has not stopped from several news agencies suggesting that Ronaldo could be on his way out of the Madrid club.

If reports from the El Mundo Deportivo are to be believed, Ronaldo has his eyes set on a move to the MLS and is believed to be genuinely excited at the prospect of moving to a new league with Los Angeles FC who are set to take part in the MLS from 2018.

He has won everything that is on offer at the club level in England as well as in Spain, and while he remains in shape despite being in his 30’s it is perhaps time for the former Manchester United man to enjoy the last few years of his career while earning a fat pay cheque in the process (let’s be honest, should he move to the MLS, it will cost them a bucket load of money).

Ronaldo is believed to be particularly irked about the ongoing tax evasion allegations against him by the Spanish authorities and with these matters cropping up time and again, Ronaldo might be fed up of the spotlight and a move away will suit him just fine.

While a move to the MLS seems inevitable, it would send shockwaves across the globe if Ronaldo actually switched Los Blancos' colours for the colours of an MLS club in the next 2 transfer windows.