Ljungberg eyes European return

Former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is considering a return to Europe when his contract with MLS side Chicago expires in January.

The former Sweden international spent 10 years in the English Premier League with Arsenal and West Ham, before being lured to the United States by MLS franchise the Seattle Sounders in 2008.

But after being traded to the Chicago Fire earlier in 2010, the 33-year-old announced he would leave the MLS when his contract expires in 2010 and he is now eyeing a return to European football.

“My contract is up in the new year, so I have to stay there for now. I will then look at my options and see what happens,” Ljungberg told Sky Sports.

“I have got to look at the different offers, there are lots of clubs that are interested in different leagues from across Europe and in England.”

“I want to look at them and consider them when it gets closer to January, because I am not allowed to play until then anyway. Then I will see what I want to do.”

“I will do the old trick of putting the pluses and the minuses against each other and see what happens.”

Ljungberg has battled with persistent injuries over the latter years of his career, but the Swede believes he is up to the physical rigours of playing in one of Europe’s top leagues.

“Unfortunately I had some hamstring issues in the last few years,” Ljungberg said.

“They said my hip was injured, well broken, when I got to America so they did a big surgery on that and since then I haven’t had any problems with my hamstrings.”

Ljungberg played 313 games for Arsenal between 1998-2007, winning two English Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his time with the north London club.