Sydney FC's New Zealand international striker Shane Smeltz has been linked with a move to the Malaysia Super League (MSL).
The 33-year-old, who scored against Italy at the 2010 World Cup, is in talks with an unnamed MSL club, according to The World Game on SBS. Smeltz was an unused substitute as Sydney FC beat one of his former clubs Perth Glory 3-1 in the A-League on Saturday.
The two-time Oceania Player of the Year has been targeted to make a move in April when the Malaysian transfer window opens, less than a month before the end of the home-and-away A-League season. He is reportedly considering a lucrative offer.
After joining Sydney FC in a one-year deal in May, Smeltz has scored three goals in 10 appearances. But he's been an increasingly peripheral figure with the emergence of Austrian forward Marc Janko, supported by Alex Brosque and Bernie Ibini.
In 2010, the Kiwi veteran agreed to join Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng on a two-year contract before changing his mind and returning to Australia five days later.
Smeltz has an impressive record in Australia, having won the Johnny Warren medal for the A-League's outstanding footballer of the 2008-2009 season and was the A-League's Golden Boot in 2009 and 2010. In 51 international appearances for New Zealand since 2003, he has scored 23 times.
He has netted 80 A-League goals, which places him second on the all-time A-League goal-scoring list behind Melbourne Victory's Archie Thompson.
Several former A-League players are currently plying their trade in the MSL, including Jonathan McKain (Kelantan FA), Robbie Cornthwaite (Selangor), Ryan Griffiths (Sarawak FA).