TORONTO -- Jermain Defoe, whose future in Toronto has come into question recently, will be back training with the MLS side on Sept. 20, according to manager Greg Vanney.

Toronto FC turned down a club-record transfer bid Monday for the 31-year-old England striker, amidst reports and speculation suggesting that he wants to return to England. That's where Defoe currently is, nursing a groin injury.

On Saturday, the star forward sent a message of support via Twitter to his Toronto teammates. And Vanney offered a concrete date for his return.

"We know he'll be back on the 20th to join our camp," Vanney said after Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union. "And we look forward to him getting back. Clearly he's a difference-maker, a big part of the club and a big part of this team."

Vanney said the team was speaking to Defoe daily or every other day and "those conversations are going well."

"A lot of this is behind us," he added.

Vanney said he hoped Defoe would be able to play "soon thereafter" following his return.

"I know his regimen that he is supposed to be going through now is intense. So the hope is he shows up fit and ready to sharpen up within the team."

Toronto (9-11-6) could use its leading scorer. It has not scored in 280 minutes.

GM Tim Bezbatchenko, who was at the post-game news conference where Vanney spoke declined comment saying Vanney had said what needed to be said.

Defoe broke his silence before the game, opting for the 140-character route.

"Big game for boys tonight good luck can't wait to be back out there scoring," he tweeted.

It was 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 have denied reports that their star acquisition, signed from Tottenham in January, wanted to leave.

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.

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.