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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Jeff Attinella makes a save against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the second half of an MLS soccer match on Wednesday July 13, 2016, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

(Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Portland Timbers have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring goalkeeper Jeff Attinella.

Multiple reports Friday linked the Timbers to Attinella. The 28-year-old goalkeeper was a member of Real Salt Lake from 2013-2016 where he played behind MLS veteran Nick Rimando. He was taken in the expansion draft earlier this week by Minnesota United FC.

Can confirm that Portland are interested in Attinella. Been working on something since shortly after the Expansion Draft. https://t.co/y0kCxQwwoU — Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) December 16, 2016

While it was not immediately clear how the Timbers would acquire Attinella, one possible move Portland could make would be to send the rights of Miguel Ibarra to Minnesota in exchange for Attinella.

Ibarra was drafted by the Timbers in 2012, but did not sign with the club. He ended up playing for Minnesota United for three years while they were still part of the North American Soccer League before joining Mexican side Club Leon.

Even though he never played for the Timbers, Portland still holds Ibarra's MLS rights.

If the Timbers do acquire Atinella, the goalkeeper would likely be brought in to play as a backup and push Timbers starting keeper Jake Gleeson.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg