Toronto FC 's Jermain Defoe reacts to a missed goal scoring opportunity against D.C. United during first half MLS action in Toronto on Saturday March 22, 2014.The Canadian Press
Jermain Defoe, on the heels of another report saying he wants out of Toronto, wished his teammates well Saturday and said he can't wait to get back in action.
"Big game for boys tonight good luck can't wait to be back out there scoring," the star striker, currently in England nursing a groin injury, said via Twitter in advance of TFC's game against the Philadelphia Union.
It was Defoe's first public comment since his MLS team acknowledged it had turned down a club-record transfer bid for the 31-year-old at the end of the recent transfer window.
It was also his first tweet since Aug. 21 when he excitedly noted a special delivery of custard.
Earlier Saturday, the Daily Mail reported that the England striker is set to open negotiations with Toronto about exiting before the January transfer window.
Toronto officials had previously denied reports that their star acquisition wanted to leave. GM Tim Bezbatchenko, asked for comment on the Mail report, declined via a club official who said the GM wanted to focus on Saturday's game.
Toronto has a significant investment in Defoe since signing him from Tottenham in January.
Defoe was linked to deadline day moves Monday to Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City.
Harry Redknapp, manager of Queens Park Rangers, said Monday his team tried hard to pry Defoe free but was told Toronto would not give him up ahead of the MLS playoffs.
Redknapp, who worked with Defoe at West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham, also said Defoe wants to return to England. Bezbatchenko denied that, saying his star forward is happy in Toronto.
The Daily Telegraph reported earlier this week that Defoe is believed to be concerned he made a mistake by moving to MLS and that the standard of soccer is not as good as he had hoped. The paper added that Defoe has struggled to adapt to his new life and was upset at last weekend's firing of manager Ryan Nelsen and five members of his coaching staff.
Toronto (9-10-6) stood fourth in the Eastern Conference ahead of Saturday's game.