Timbers bid $5.4 million for teenage striker

With the 2023 MLS regular season inching ever closer, the Portland Timbers still have plenty of roster building to do should they be keen on returning into the conversation as one of the Western Conference's elite clubs. After a lackluster 2022 campaign in which the Cascadia club finished a point outside of the playoffs, improvements to the playing squad have been badly needed.

For a start, the club have completed the signing of 24 year-old Brazilian midfielder Evander, whose 50 goals and 38 assists in 167 appearances across all competitions for Danish giants Midtjylland make hime PTFC's first signal of intent on returning to the top of the pile in the west.

However, while Evander will upgrade the Timbers' creativity in midfield, they remain in search of an out and out goalscorer to lead the line for Gio Savarese. In 2022, the Timbers' strikers, Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Felipe Mora, and Nathan Fogaca, racked up a measly haul of just 12 goals from a combined 56 games played. As a result, rumors have circulated the club are interested in bringing in another center-forward to bolster the attacking ranks.

Most recently, reports out of Croatia have suggested that PTFC have expressed interest teenage striker Matija Frigan of Rijeka. The 19-year-old has registered 5 goals in 13 appearances so far this season for the Croatian club, and can also play on the right-wing.

In the most recent reports from Radio Rijeka, it has been suggested that the Timbers have bid up to $5.4 million for the forward in an effort to beat out a handful of Serie A clubs who are also interested in Frigan. Should he make the move to Providence Park, Frigan would likley be signed as a young designated player, and could even potentially compete for the starting role should he hit the ground running.