AMSTERDAM – The father and agent of out-of-contract Rosenborg ace Mikkel Diskerud has confirmed serious interest from the Portland Timbers, but says MLS has yet to bid on his services.
The 22-year-old US international, who will become a free agent with the new year, is currently on vacation in America pondering his future. Diskerud already has an extension offer from Rosenborg sitting on the table, as well as a proposal from Rapid Vienna.
"Caleb Porter has contacted Mix and asked him to consider joining him on his move to the Portland Timbers, if possible," Paal Diskerud told MLSsoccer.com. "Representatives of the league ownership in MLS, including Portland, and Mix have not at this point attempted to contractually bind each other."
Timbers GM Gavin Wilkinson declined to address the Diskerud rumors specifically, but did confirm to MLSsoccer.com on Friday that the club is seeking an attacking midfielder.
While the Oslo-born playmaker is somewhat unfamiliar with MLS, his pop says the presence of Porter makes Portland an option to seriously consider. The new Timbers boss managed Diskerud during the US Under-23 national team's failed Olympic qualification campaign earlier this year.
"Mix believes in Mr. Porter's potential to build balanced teams along the modern – and, in the opinion of Mix – most fun styles of play," said Paal Diskerud.
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"Mix does not need to consider his willingness to struggle for the principles that he knows Mr. Porter brings to the game. Nor does Mix need to consider or have any doubt that The Timbers Army long has been setting the standard for how soccer should be enjoyed in the United States of America and Canada."
The US international is also well aware of the potential significance of a move to MLS.
"The short-term goal of Mix is to be able to co-contribute in moving the USMNT further up the FIFA World Ranking table," stated Diskerud's father. "Mix does know, that until now, it has been uncommon for young players of European leagues, educated in European leagues, to go play professionally in USA and Canada early on in their careers.
"[He] is very honored that both have asked him to help along and promote the world's overall biggest sport in the country he has chosen to represent internationally."
The elder Diskerud also revealed that his son will only return to Norway to wear a Rosenborg uniform. Meanwhile, MLSsoccer.com has learned from sources around Europe that the midfielder is also being wooed by several clubs on the continent, including one longtime Eredivisie admirer.
After arriving from Stabæk in midseason, Diskerud notched a goal and an assist in 11 Norwegian top-flight games for third-place Rosenborg. He added another goal, a spectacular qualification decider against Legia Warsaw, in seven Europa League outings.
