Minnesota United will enter the 2020 MLS season Sunday with a primary box on its offseason to-do list still unchecked: add a central attacking midfielder. But going into the opener at Portland, the Loons don’t see a dark hole at that primary playmaking spot.

After six weeks of continued work, including technical director Mark Watson making multiple trips to Buenos Aires, the Loons’ pursuit of Boca Juniors player Emanuel “Bebelo” Reynoso remained active and was in advanced negotiations on Wednesday.

Minnesota has pursued the 24-year-old Argentine in varying loan proposals, including the more likely option, a multi-million-dollar transfer, which would set a United FC record. Ten days ago, a deal with the giant South American club looked very promising before ebbing.

Watson declined to speak of specifics of a multi-faceted deal given its ongoing nature and the fact that Reynoso has a current employer, but Watson shared a few things in an interview with the Pioneer Press on Wednesday.

“They have made it very clear that they value this player; that’s a good thing,” Watson said. “But it also makes the acquisition side of it a little more challenging.”

Watson said he has no planned follow-up trips to Argentina, but the two sides remain in contact. He said Minnesota is in “no rush” to strike a deal for Reynoso, including by the end of MLS’ transfer window May 5 or in the summer window from July 7 to Aug. 5.

Watson added United has “gone down the line with a few players,” but it’s clear Reynoso is their top target.

If Minnesota gets the Reynoso deal over the line, mlssoccer.com commentator David Gaas sees it being a major boost to the Loons’ forecast this season. “If they bring in Reynoso, we are talking about a team that can contend at the top of the Western Conference and a team that’s going to be in the MLS Cup conversation the entire year,” he said.

Gaas’ statement drew a “wow” reaction from fellow commentator Matt Doyle, but it’s really only a step or two beyond what the Loons did last year in finishing fourth in the West before losing 2-1 to Los Angeles Galaxy in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

United’s objective in 2020 is to take a step beyond its 15-11-8 record and first playoff appearance in ’19.

Minnesota’s returning core of players, with the primary acquisitions of Paraguyan striker Luis Amarilla and goalkeeper Tyler Miller, serve as the basis for United not feeling like it’s Reynoso or bust. One key to this theory is carryover attacker Kevin Molino filling in the central attacking mid, or No. 10, role.

Few champion Molino more than Loons coach Adrian Heath, who advocated for the Loons to plop down a then MLS-record total of $650,000 for Molino and backup goalkeeper Patrick McLain in 2017. Heath initially made Molino the first signing for Orlando City in 2015, then brought him to Minnesota to initiate the offense of the expansion side.

Molino had seven goals and nine assists in 30 games in 2017, before an anterior cruciate ligament and menisci injury disrupted his 2018 and 2019 seasons. He suffered the injury in April 2018 and didn’t play 60-plus minutes in consecutive games until July 2019.

“We had a good conversation at the end of last year,” Heath said. “I know he was on the back of an ACL, but for me, he didn’t do enough of what he can do.”

Molino, who had three goals and four assists in 17 games last year, showcased his skills in the preseason round-robin tournament last week in Portland, Ore. Related Articles Houston Dynamo scores twice in 2nd half to tie Minnesota United

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“I was talking to a couple of coaches after the tournament in Portland and they were talking about Molino, which is what it used to be because when he’s good, he really difficult to mark,” Heath said. “He can make things happen. Make a goal, score a goal.”

Returning aggression for a more laid-back Trinidad native was on display again Wednesday’s training session in Blaine. Molino had two highlight-reel goals, a top-corner laser from 20 yards out and then a sneaky back-heel finish to catch goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh off guard. Both goals came in short-sided, five-on-five scrimmages.

“He has really been getting after it in the training sessions,” Heath said of Molino. “He has been far more engaged and a bit more his old self. I’m expecting big thing from him this season.”