The Portland Timbers are hopeful that they will be able to re-sign winger Rodney Wallace ahead of the 2016 season, a source confirmed to The Oregonian/OregonLive Monday.

Wallace was out of contract at the end of the 2015 season, but the Timbers announced in December that they had made him a bona fide offer to return to the team.

While the club is hopeful that Wallace will return, they have not finalized any deal at this point. It is not surprising that attempting to reach a deal has taken time.

Wallace has started 92 games for the Timbers since joining the club in 2011. He was a key piece of Portland's 2015 run to the MLS Cup title, scoring Portland's opening goal in playoffs against Sporting Kansas City, before recording the game-winning goal in the MLS Cup final.

The Timbers are also still in negotiations with center back Norberto Paparatto after declining his contract option in December, but it is unlikely that Paparatto will return to the club, the source told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Paparatto has made 17 starts since joining the Timbers ahead of the 2014 season. He served as Portland's backup center back in 2015 and performed well during his time on the field.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg