Quantcast
Source: Samuel Armenteros close to Timbers deal – Metro US

Source: Samuel Armenteros close to Timbers deal

Source: Samuel Armenteros close to Timbers deal

Swedish international Samuel Armenteros is closing in on a deal with MLS as a contract for the Swedish international should be finalized by this weekend.

Armenteros is close to a deal that will make him a member of the Portland Timbers, multiple sources tell Metro. Set to turn 28-years old this year, the twice-capped Swede is currently on the books of Serie A club Benevento. He has had successful stints in Holland and Belgium prior to heading to Italy to play in one of the world’s best leagues.

The sources all confirmed to Metro that Armenteros is in the final stages of a deal and that negotiations with Benevento have proceeded smoothly. The player could physically be in Portland as early as this week.

The arrival of Armenteros is the latest move in what has been an intense makeover of the Timbers roster. From the announcement of Gio Savarese as head coach to several intriguing signings, it will be a year of transition and change in Portland.

In Armenteros, they have a striker who is capable of putting goals in bunches.

A true No. 9, Armenteros runs the channels well and has tremendous movement off the ball. He uses the body effectively in the penalty area but also has the ability to shoot from distance. Throughout his formative years, he played for Sweden from the U-17 to the U-21 level.

He parlayed a strong season for his club team a year ago into a pair of international call-ups including scoring once in an international friendly against Norway last summer.

Savarese, a former Venezuelan international, played several seasons in MLS as he started his career with the née NY/NJ MetroStars and was most recently head coach of the New York Cosmos in the NASL. This is his first year in MLS as a head coach as he takes over for Caleb Porter in Portland.