The Portland Timbers admit that trading off No. 1 Expansion Draft selection Dax McCarty less than three hours after drafting him on Wednesday was a gamble. But it was a calculated one.
“It’s definitely a risk,” Portland technical director Gavin Wilkinson told the media. “But we had another couple of players that we’ve identified.”
Wilkinson explained that one of the unnamed players that the Timbers are pursuing overseas would fill the central midfield spot that McCarty would have occupied, making the 23-year-old expendable. He referred to the mystery man as a “foreign acquisition which will make us a real successful team next year.”
“We have looked overseas for a quality central midfielder and we think we’ve found the perfect person,” Wilkinson said. “We’re trying to acquire that individual. He will be one of the best midfielders in the entire league. When you start to think about the possibilities, we are really excited.”
The club is engaged in various conversations with international players including one who would boost the attacking corps.
“There is also a forward who is a proven goal scorer who has been successful overseas,” Wilkinson said. “We’re sitting down with guys at the moment. I can’t name the guys we’re talking to at present time. We’re trying to get those deals sorted out.”
While the Timbers did not refer to their overseas targets as Designated Players, manager John Spencer said that ownership would support a DP signing.
“Merritt [Paulson, the club's owner,] has said to us openly, if you go out there and find the right guy, and he’s a DP and a right fit and can take the club forward to different heights, the money is available to sign one,” Spencer said. “We haven’t found that player just yet. Today we’ve put a lot of pieces in place [through the Expansion Draft] for this club to have a good future for years to come.”
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