TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Report
The Portland Timbers' search for a new striker won't end with a move for UANL Tigres striker Eduardo Vargas, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Carlisle.
A source with direct knowledge of the negotiations tells Carlisle the Timbers and Tigres didn't see eye-to-eye on Vargas' value. Portland had made a bid of $8.5 million for the 29-year-old Chilean, Carlisle writes, a bit less than his previously reported figure of $10 million. Univision and ESPN first reported Portland's interest in Vargas last week.
Vargas has 18 Liga MX goals in roughly two years with Tigres, but the club are keen to move on from him and could yet circle back to Portland should a better offer not materialize, Carlisle writes. The 2019 MLS Primary Transfer Window closes on May 7.
The Timbers did not have a single forward hit double-digit goals last season in a season where Fanendo Adi, Samuel Armenteros and Jeremy Ebobisse all saw opportunities, but got 10 each from attacking midfielders Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco.
But with Adi's move to FC Cincinnati last summer and Armenteros' departure following the season, the top line is an obvious position of need for the 2018 MLS Cup finalists.
