Chelsea: Sporting Kansas City confirm interest in signing Marko Marin

Chelsea's forgotten midfielder Marko Marin could be set for a move to Major League Soccer this summer, with Sporting Kansas City CEO Robb Heineman revealing that the franchise are interested in signing him.

The 26-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge from Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee in 2012, yet has made just six appearances in the Premier League since and last played for the club over two years ago during a 3-1 Europa League victory over Rubin Kazan.

Marin, who has 16 senior caps for Germany, has been sent out on loan three times since then, spending the entire 2013/14 season in Spain with Europa League winners Sevilla before joining Fiorentina last August.

He struggled to make any sort of impact at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, however, featuring just four times under former manager Vincenzo Montella and failing to appear in any of La Viola's Serie A fixtures.

That particular deal was terminated early and Marin was then dispatched to Anderlecht in January with an option for the Belgian side to make the arrangement permanent at a later date.

Such a proposal was eventually declined, leaving the player facing an uncertain future given that the chances of him returning to Chelsea and establishing himself as a first-team regular under Jose Mourinho appear extremely remote.

A move across the Atlantic could help to revive a career that has stuttered badly over recent years, with Heineman confirming prior to Sporting Kansas City's 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on 27 June that Marin is one of two players scheduled to arrive at Sporting Park this week for talks over a potential move.

"We've got two guys actually coming in, there's one here tonight, there's one that'll be here Wednesday night. It's really recruitment mode for us. They are both guys, neither of which we have signed to a contract," he said in an interview that was broadcast on Kansas City's official Youtube channel.

"We haven't finalised any details yet, but players that we think can be really good. One of them I can tell you about is a guy by the name of Marko Marin. He's a Chelsea player, he's a guy that we feel can play both wings, can play the attacking midfielder role.

"That's mainly what we're looking for, someone who can bring some punch to the final third. We've got a number of central defenders that are in as well, but I think for me we need one more attacking piece and we think Marin could really be a good one for us."

Sporting Kansas City, who won the MLS Cup in 2013 and are coached by former US international Peter Vermes, currently lie fifth in the Western Conference ahead of their next match against FC Dallas on 1 July.