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Around The Forest: USL to use Pro/Rel?

Also: Matt Doyle looks at the Timbers roster, Cubo Torres off to Pumas in LigaMX, Luciano Acosta gets green card and more!

Portland

Armchair Analyst: Roster build status for Portland Timbers | MLSsoccer.com
The Offseason So Far: The two most shocking moves thus far have come from the Rose City. First Caleb Porter resigned out of the blue, and then the Timbers offloaded midfielder Darlington Nagbe (and salary-dumped Gbenga Arokoyo) for a dumptruck of TAM from Atlanta. Add in the departures of Darren Mattocks and Amobi Okugo, and new head coach Giovanni Savarese has a ton of cap flexibility.

Major League Soccer

Vieira: Possible that Jack Harrison remains at New York City FC | MLSsoccer.com
“There is a possibility for him to stay, the same way there’s a possibility for him to go,” Vieira said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday. “But at the moment he’s here, he’s working really hard and I’m really pleased with the way he’s been conducting himself the last two days, but Jack has always been good.”

Report: Orlando City offer contract to Lens defender Dusan Cvetinovic | MLSsoccer.com
Orlando City have offered Lens center back Dusan Cvetinovic a contract, according to a French report. TopMercato.com reported this week that Orlando have offered the 29-year-old Serb a long-term contract. The site added that he’s also received interest from Greek club AEK Athens.

Report: Colombian striker Harold Mosquera linked to MLS move, FC Dallas | MLSsoccer.com
According to a report out of Colombia, Harold Santiago Mosquera could be bound for the US after his club, Millonarios, received a $4 million offer for the 22-year-old. Another report links the move to FC Dallas.

Luciano Acosta obtains permanent residence in US with Green Card | D.C. United
“I’m happy to get my Green Card and I’m excited to have permanent residence in the United States,” said Acosta. “My family and I are glad to be in D.C. and this is a big step for us to continue settling in this city and country.”

Pumas UNAM announce acquisition of Houston Dynamo's Cubo Torres | MLSsoccer.com
Just hours after Houston Dynamo forward Erick “Cubo” Torres told a local paper that he "made the decision of staying here in Houston," it seems like he's actually heading to Mexico. Mexico City-based Pumas UNAM announced the acquisition of Cubo Torres on Wednesday night to the tune of "welcome to your new home" on social media.

Stejskal: Atlanta still hold Yamil Asad's rights, MNUFC's interest cools | MLSsoccer.com
Sources told MLSsoccer.com that even though Asad returned to Argentine club Velez Sarsfield following the expiration of his loan to Atlanta at the end of the 2017 season, the Five Stripes still hold his MLS rights. A league spokesman confirmed that to MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday.

Meram: "It was right for me" to train even after trade request | MLSsoccer.com
Justin Meram may not be certain he wants to stay in Columbus, but when Crew SC preseason training began this week, Meram was in camp doing fitness exercises with his teammates. Over the offseason, the playmaking winger made it known to head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter that he was interested in moving away from Columbus.

Warshaw: Why the LA Galaxy are title contenders | MLSsoccer.com
It’s strange to say, but the LA Galaxy had been flying under the radar coming into this offseason. LAFC’s arrival has taken much of the LA spotlight, and Atlanta has stolen the major acquisition headlines. Plus, their last place 2017 form made it tough to imagine Major League Soccer’s most successful club regaining their Galacticos form anytime soon.

Montreal Impact transfer Ballou Tabla to FC Barcelona | MLSsoccer.com
Montreal announced on Thursday that they have transferred attacker Ballou Tabla to FC Barcelona for an undisclosed fee. He becomes the first Impact academy grad to be sold to a European club. He'll join Barcelona's reserve team, Barcelona B, which competes in Spain's second division.

United States

Promotion and relegation within USL divisions 'very interesting' - president
The USL is interested in introducing promotion and relegation between its two divisions, league president Jake Edwards says. After securing its status as a Division 2 league with U.S. Soccer, USL plans to add a third-division league that will begin play in 2019.

USMNT vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2018 friendly: 5 Things to Know - Stars and Stripes FC
After a disappointing 2017 that culminated in failing to qualify for the World Cup, the The United States Men’s National Team kicks off 2018 with a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. As this match does not occur on a FIFA international date, clubs were not required to release players. As a result, both sides are missing numerous regular starters from their roster. Still, most American fans are unfamiliar with the Bosnian roster and what they can do, so here are some quick facts about the team.

USA U-20 hangs on to 2-1 lead to beat Mexico at CONCACAF qualifiers - Stars and Stripes FC
It was a cagey start to the last Group B game in the CONCACAF U-20 championship as the United States took on Mexico. After a narrow 2-1 win over Jamaica, the US U-20’s were looking for a more dominant display over Mexico.

World

Marcus Rashford should meet Alexis Sanchez challenge head-on at United
Jose Mourinho revealed last summer that Marcus Rashford's physical development had accelerated so much over the previous 12 months that the Manchester United youngster had grown three centimetres and added considerable muscle to his coltish frame during his first year as manager at Old Trafford.

Liga MX goals of the week and highlights: The best from Jornada 3 of the Clausura | Goal.com
Liga MX is generally replete with goals each weekend. In Week 2 every match had at least one goal. This weekend it was a different story as four matches finished scoreless. Nevertheless, Goal once again takes you through the best goals from Mexico this weekend, and despite the general lack of scoring there were some good ones to watch.

Liga MX news: Third time a charm? Ruben Omar Romano again announced as Atlas manager | Goal.com
The Guadalajara club announced Thursday that Romano is taking over as manager for the rest of the Clausura. The club fired Jose "Profe" Cruz after it started off the tournament with a pair of defeats and interim manager Gerardo Espinoza was unable to do anything to change that as Atlas fell 3-1 to Toluca in his only match in charge.