Robin Lod, the projected first signing for Minnesota United in the summer transfer window, was spotted at Allianz Field for Saturday’s game against FC Dallas.

The Loons have not made the transfer of the 26-year-old Finnish midfielder official, but his presence in St. Paul makes it one step closer to becoming a reality.

The acquisition could be announced early next week, and it’s unclear what immigration paperwork hurdles he will have to clear before he is eligible to play for the Loons.

Minnesota will play Real Salt Lake in Utah on July 20.

Lod left Sporting Gijon, his previous club in Spain’s second division, to travel to Minnesota late in the week.

ALONSO INJURED

The Loons’ perfect health has come to an end.

Captain defensive midfielder Ozzie Alonso appeared to injury his right shoulder in the 64th minute but stayed in the game after receiving attention from head athletic trainer Stacey Hardin. He tweaked it in the 70th minute and was subbed out in favor of Lawrence Olum in the 72nd.

“We don’t think it’s a fracture,” Heath said. “He will have an MRI (Sunday), but the doctors are hopeful, very confident it’s not broken.”

Heath also revealed that center back Ike Opara played through in illness on Saturday.

ONE CHANGE

After playing Wednesday against New Mexico United, United coach Adrian Heath made only one change to his starting lineup against FC Dallas.

Ethan Finlay replaced Miguel Ibarra as an attacking midfielder after Ibarra broke his scoring drought with a goal in the 6-1 win in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.

Finlay was one of four Loons who had on multi-game point streaks in MLS play end Saturday, including Darwin Quintero, Kevin Molino, Ike Opara.

Dallas came into Saturday’s game on more rest. It last played nine days ago, a 2-0 win over D.C. United on July 4, while Minnesota beat Montreal 3-2 on July 6 and then topped New Mexico on Wednesday.

BRIEFLY

— Abu Danladi, Dayne St. Clair, Carter Manley and Wyatt Omsberg played on loan in Forward Madison’s 1-1 draw with Chattanooga in a USL championship match in Wisconsin.

— MLS all-star Romain Metanire will return to the Loons on Sunday, Heath said. He has been away with the Madagascar national team, which lost int he quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

— The Loons will play Aston Villa, a newly promoted English Premier League club, in a friendly on Wednesday at Allianz Field. Officials from Aston Villa toured United’s training facilities at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Thursday. It’s the third Premier League club Minnesota has faced, following Swansea City in 2014 and Bournemouth in 2016.