The Portland Timbers are still set to acquire a new center back, but the timeline for that new player to arrive has been pushed back.

The club had originally wanted to bring in a new center back ahead of the 2017 season following the season-ending injury to Gbenga Arokoyo. Timbers coach Caleb Porter later said that the club would be adding the new center back in May.

Now, it looks like the Timbers will have to wait until June for the arrival of their new center back and the player will not be available to play until the secondary transfer window opens on July 10, according to a report from ESPN reporter Jeff Carlisle.

I'm told that Portland's deal to bring in new CB will not get done today. It's not John Boye either. Scheduled to arrive in July. #RCTID — Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) May 8, 2017

Point of clarification. Portland's new CB will arrive in June & be eligible to play in July. #RCTID https://t.co/JMruQpkWbC — Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) May 8, 2017

According to multiple reports, the Timbers have already signed a new center back out of Turkey. The holdup appears to be with the player's contract and the willingness of his current team to release/transfer him before mid-summer. The primary transfer window closes Monday, so the Timbers would have to announce a signing today or wait until July for the new player to be eligible to compete.

The Timbers have been starting Lawrence Olum, who the club originally brought in to primarily serve as depth at defensive midfield, alongside Liam Ridgewell at center back while they wait to bring in a new starting CB. The club also used Roy Miller as a starting center back as Ridgewell missed six-straight games with a foot injury earlier this season.

Portland has had a strong start to the season despite the questions at center back. The Timbers remain in third place in the Western Conference standings with more than a quarter of the season behind them, though the club has conceded 15 goals in 10 games, which is tied for third-worst in the Western Conference.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg