By ADAM SERRANO
The Portland Timbers are after their first ever Designated Player and would like to do so sooner rather than later.
In a radio interview with the Talk Timbers radio program on Portland radio station 95.5 The Game on Wednesday, club owner Merritt Paulson stated that the club was interested in adding a central midfielder as a DP and hopes to have that player by the team's home opener against the Chicago Fire.
“We will add a player of note, of significance, a center midfielder, and I would venture to guess we’ll have that player by our home opener on April 14,” Paulson said.
In the same interview, Paulson stated that it will be announced shortly whether the club will be able to bring in English defender Kerrea Gilbert, whose status is still in doubt due to visa issues.
Earlier in the week, Timbers announced the signing of Ugandan forward Brian Umony on loan from his South African club University of Pretoria FC. Umony scored the first-ever goal for the new Timbers franchise against MLS competition earlier in the preseason when he scored against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Here is some more news from around the Western Conference:
CHIVAS USA
Tristan Bowen has gotten a considerable press in 2011 as potential breakout player; however, the longtime forward will have to do it from a new position, as head coach Robin Fraser has decided to place the 20-year-old along the wings. It is a decision that Bowen admits is a "challenge."
Also, Fraser recently sat down and discussed his own philosphy for coaching and a number of other topics including how his stint as assistant coach with RSL will help him with the Rojiblancos.
COLORADO RAPIDS
The Rapids have signed Irish international forward Caleb Folan. The former Hull City forward impressed during his preseason training stint with the club and will be added to the roster as soon as his paperwork is processed.
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas has renewed its partnership with Mexican club Tigres UNAL for 2011. The partnership will see the clubs facing off twice (one time in Frisco and the other in Monterrey). FC Dallas will travel to Monterrey for the first meeting on March 23 and then play against the Mexican giants in Frisco in September.
L.A. GALAXY
The Galaxy released their injury report for its home opener on Sunday's with the New England Revoultion. Juan Pablo Angel and Omar Gonzalez, who missed the first match with an illness and a shoulder strain, respectively, were upgraded to probable for the match. Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts continues to face an injury test as he is currently questionable for Sunday's match.
Defender Gregg Berhalter is listed as doubtful due to a left MCL sprain and is still likely several weeks from action.
REAL SALT LAKE
For the next week, the fate of RSL will be determined in a pair of San Joses -- San Jose, Calif. and San Jose, Costa Rica. As the club looks ahead to their home opener, though, it appears that the Champions League is begining to take its toll on the club with a couple of players facing an injury test.
One is defender Jamison Olave, who could miss the first two matches of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in the home leg against Saprissa. Fellow defender Chris Wingert is also an injury doubt with a sprained ankle.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
After the abrupt departure of Designated Player Blaise Nfuko, Seattle Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer has attempted to shed some light on the rationale for his departure. Hanuaer denied that there was any schism between Nfuko and the coaching staff as the Sounders and the league are still deciding the best way to end his contract with the club.
“I think some of it is going to be left behind closed doors but, again, we sat down and it was mutual,” Hanauer told Soundersfc.com. “O'Brian White is starting to play well. Nate Jaqua is coming back from injury. Certainly from a team management standpoint, the cap and cap management is a big part of what we have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. There is a part to the league rules that says this has to be done before the beginning of the regular season. You can't do it a game or two or three in.”
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The Earthquakes have finalized their deal with Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Simon Dawkins. It is not yet clear if Dawkins will be available for the Quakes first match on Saturday against Real Salt Lake.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
The Vancouver Whitecaps appear to be rounding out their roster. On Thursday, the Whitecaps signed Supplemental Draft pick defender Michael Boxall, Canada U-23 midfielder Russell Teibert, midfielder Alexandre Morfaw, and forward Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo. Teibert has impressed greatly in preseason, and the Canadian youth international has been signed to a Generation Adidas contract with MLS.
In addition to falling under the Generation Adidas umbrella, Teibert will also qualify as a 'Homegrown' signing for the club after spending considerable time in the Whitecaps Academy system.
