Report: Timbers looking to acquire Paraguayan central midfielder Cristhian Paredes?

The Portland Timbers may be getting close to signing their box-to-box midfielder.

A report out of Paraguay on Wednesday indicated the Timbers are looking into acquiring Paraguayan central midfielder Cristhian Paredes on loan from Liga MX side Club América with an option to buy. Paredes, a 19-year-old box-to-box central midfielder, has made frequent appearances for Paraguay’s youth international sides and in February 2017 received his first cap with the senior national team in a friendly against France.

Wednesday morning’s report initially surfaced on Twitter when Pablo Pedrero, a Paraguayan journalist, indicated the Timbers remained interested in acquiring Paredes.

That report was subsequently confirmed by comments from Carlos Giagni, an executive at Paraguayan club Sol de América with whom Paredes started his professional career, that indicated that club was aware of the possibility that the Timbers may acquire Paredes on loan with an option to buy.

If such a deal comes to pass, it appears Paredes would be the TAM-level box-to-box midfielder the Timbers have sought this winter. Paredes moved to Club América in January 2017, but has not yet broken into the first team for Las Águilas. Brought in under Ricardo La Volpe, Paredes has not gained the favor of Miguel Herrera after the former El Tri manager joined the club in May 2017. The only action with the senior team Paredes has seen was two appearances in Copa MX in January and February 2017. Since then, however, Paredes has largely played with América’s U-20 side.

This is not the first time Paredes has been connected with the Timbers. Back in December reports emerged that Timbers were interested in the Paraguayan midfielder.

Given the repeated nature of the reports now and the comments from Sol de América, it seems likely there is something to the Timbers’ reported interest in Paredes. Keep an eye on this one; the stove certainly seems to be heating up.