The Portland Timbers could be on the cusp of signing long-time Newcastle United F.C. center back Steven Taylor.

A Twitter report from England Saturday indicated that the Timbers had signed Taylor. Adding legitimacy to the report, ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman tweeted out that Taylor was inside Providence Park for Saturday's game between the Timbers and LA Galaxy.

The Timbers have not commented on the legitimacy of the reports.

Taylor, 30, has been with Newcastle since his youth days. He has made 215 appearances with the English club since 2003.

Recent reports have indicated that Taylor would be leaving Newcastle after the club was relegated from the English Premier League to the Football League Championship following the 2015-2016 season.

The Timbers recently transferred goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey to Norwegian club Rosenborg BK, freeing up the salary cap space needed to sign a player of Taylor's caliber. Timbers coach Caleb Porter said last week that it was possible that Portland would use the newfound salary cap flexibility to sign a player this summer.

Making a move for a starting-caliber center back would make a lot of sense for the Timbers.

Timbers starting center backs Nat Borchers and Liam Ridgewell will be out of contract at the end of the season. The Timbers also struggled on defense early this season, though they have played better in recent weeks.

Steven Taylor of @NUFC is here today in Portland taking in the game and rumored to be talking to @TimbersFC on a new deal. #PORvLA — Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) July 23, 2016

As a side note Steven Taylor has signed for the Portland Timbers #NUFC #ITK — The Insider (@theinsidernufc) July 23, 2016

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg