Timbers head coach Gio Savarese has stated today that the club will sign another striker this season, particularly a young designated player.
The striker position has been a weak spot for the Timbers in recent seasons. With injury issues for Felipe Mora, and inconsistent productivity from Jaroslaw Niezgoda, the club have long been rumored to be in the market for a goal-scoring forward. In the 2022 MLS season, the strike-trio of Niezgoda, Mora, and Nathan Fogaca only combined for 12 goals across the campaign. With the Timbers failing to secure a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs by one point, they can look towards their lack of goalscoring as one of their many crutches.
However, there seems to be good news from the rumor-mill this week, as Timbers' beat reporter Ryan Clarke for the Oregonian has revealed that head coach Gio Savarese has stated that the club will sign another striker this season. While Savarese did not reveal what the time-frame would be on that move, Timbers CSO Ned Grabavoy did point out that it would likely be a 'young designated player' that would be coming in earlier this month.
Gio Savarese said today that the Timbers are going to sign another striker. Didn’t specify a timeline, but Ned Grabavoy has said they’re pursuing a young DP at #9. #RCTID
— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) January 31, 2023
Up to this point, the only new signing to join the Cascadia club this winter was former FC Midtjylland midfielder Evander, who was signed in December for a club-record fee. The Brazilian joins the club with bags of expecation, having been a key member of Midtylland's success in the UEFA Europa League. In other transactional news for the Timbers, Nathan Fogaca, Claudio Bravo, Felipe Mora, and Zac McGraw all extended their contracts with the club.
The 2023 MLS season will kick off on February 25, as the Timbers welcome Sporting KC to Providence Park. After a dissapointing 2022 campaign, Savarese's side will be keen to get off to a quick start.