In a move to create salary-cap room and land a forward or attacking midfielder in the current transfer window, the Dynamo traded backup left back Mike Chabala and holding midfielder Lovel Palmer to the Portland Timbers for seldom-used midfielder Adam Moffat and allocation money Thursday.

Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear has wanted to land Moffat since the Timbers picked him from the Columbus Crew in the expansion draft last winter. The trade is likely to be the first of at least two in the summer transfer window.

"It gives us some flexibility to go out and get something here," Kinnear said. "We've been talking to some people. It's just a matter of if it's going to get done or not. Obviously, in the salary swing, with two players for one, it gives us a little bit more money in the salary cap. It gives us some flexibility that makes possibilities a little bit more realistic."

The Dynamo have targeted forwards from abroad or through trades with MLS clubs, and it's no secret they're not done shopping.

"We expected to make some moves in the summer window, and this is the first one," Dynamo president Chris Canetti said.

Seldom used in Portland

Moffat has appeared in four games off the bench this season with Portland, which is coached by former Dynamo assistant John Spencer.

Moffat, 25, was expected to meet the Dynamo on Thursday evening in Los Angeles and be part of the team sheet Saturday against Chivas USA at Home Depot Center.

Although he struggled to find playing time in Portland, Moffat, from Scotland, started a career-high 23 games for Columbus last season before he was exposed in the expansion draft.

"We tried to make a move for him in the expansion time," Kinnear said of Moffat. "We liked the way he played for Columbus. Obviously, he's not getting the playing time that he's probably wanting in Portland. Maybe a change of scenery will be good for him.

"I've always liked his tenacity in midfield, the way he closes down and wins balls for you. I think he's a good player in this league."

After starting most of last season, Chabala, 27, was limited to seven appearances and two starts this season.

Palmer, 26, started the first 16 games of the season and saw action in 19 of the Dynamo's 20 games. He had not started since he was given a red card against the Crew on June 18.

Help on the way

"With the allocation money, it maybe opens up more possibilities," Kinnear said. "We have about a month to try and sign somebody. We've gone after a couple of people. Not to say it's going to happen, but now maybe you can maybe increase deals to maybe make it more appealing.

"We know it's two for one, so we're down in the squad. The time now is not complete urgency, but we do have a little bit more of an urgent step to add people to the squad."

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