MLS Insider Confirms Timbers Interest In J-League Striker

Just a week after wrapping up the club's all-time most expensive signing, Evander, from Danish Superliga side Midtjylland, the Portland Timbers could be closing in on another signing to bolster the squad heading into the 2023 Major League Soccer campaign.

Goals we're hard to find for head coach Gio Savarese's side in the back-half of the 2022 season, as the team finished the year with 53 goals scored, just the eighth highest tally in the league. The lack of production from the strike force could be to blame for the many goal droughts, with just 12 goals coming from their three center-forwards.

However, MLS insider Tom Bogert has confirmed the whispers that PTFC are closing in on the signing of Urawa Reds striker, Kasper Junker. The Dane boasts a tally of 27 goals and 3 assists in 62 games for the J-League club, and before that put on a dazzling display for Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt, racking up a staggering 27 goals and 11 assists in just 25 games.

According to the information revealed by Bogert, the Timbers are interested in bringing the 28-year-old in on loan, as opposed to a permanent deal. On top of that, Junker 'isn't the only option' for the club in their search for a striker. With the recent news that the club has extended the contract of Chilean forward Felipe Mora, Junker could be seen as good option to take the pitch while Mora fights back from his second knee surgery.

Should Junker join PTFC, he would likely get started with the club in February as the Timbers head out for their first pre-season tournament at the 2023 Coachella Valley Invitational in California, where the team will contend with this schedule as their preparations get underway for the new season:

Portland Timbers vs LA Galaxy - Sunday, February 12 (Kickoff 10:30 am PT), Portland Timbers vs Toronto FC - Wednesday, February 15 (Kickoff 2 pm PT), Portland Timbers vs New York City FC - Saturday, February 18 (Kickoff 12 pm PT).