TORONTO -- Jermain Defoe wants to quit Toronto and leave Major League Soccer, according to a British report.
The Daily Mail says the England striker is set to open negotiations with Toronto FC about exiting before the January transfer window.
Toronto officials have previously denied reports that their star acquisition wanted to leave, saying only the team turned down a club-record offer for Defoe at the end of the recent transfer window.
Defoe was linked to deadline day moves Monday to Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City.
The club stance is at odds with English reports and a source also told The Canadian Press that Defoe wants out. Defoe himself has not spoken publicly on his future and an email to his representative did not elicit a response.
Now the Daily Mail says the 31-year-old forward wants to return to England.
Toronto has a significant investment in Defoe since signing him from Tottenham in January. The striker is currently nursing a groin injury in England.
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, said Defoe wants to return to England. Toronto GM Tim 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) stands fourth in the Eastern Conference ahead of Saturday's game against visiting Philadelphia.
