The Portland Timbers are still actively pursuing a designated player in the attack and Timbers owner Merritt Paulson believes that the club is likely to finalize a deal before the close of Major League Soccer’s primary transfer window on May 7.

“I feel like it’s very probable we will add a DP prior to the end of the MLS window in early May,” said Paulson on Timbers in 30. “It’s not something that I feel like we need to do either. We need to get the right guy.”

The Timbers have been linked to multiple top-notch designated players this offseason, but have yet to make a signing. Portland was recently linked to Tigres forward Eduardo Vargas, but those negotiations have stalled. If the Timbers aren’t able to reach a deal to bring in the right designated player by May 7, the club would have to wait until the summer to make a move.

Paulson said that the Timbers are currently in talks with two potential designated players. One of those players would join the Timbers on a transfer, while the other would have to come to Portland on a loan if the deal panned out.

“We’re engaged in talks with one guy to add as an acquisition right now, another who would potentially be a loan, but still a DP,” Paulson said. “But by the same token, I feel really good about the strikers we’ve got in (Jeremy Ebobisse) and Lucas (Melano), and also Foster (Langsdorf). We’ve got a lot of really good attacking depth. Tomas Conechny had an unbelievable preseason.”

Given the significant investment that the Timbers plan to make on bringing in a designated player, the club can’t afford to rush in to any signing.

“It’s about getting the right guy,” Paulson said.