The Portland Timbers will "definitely" be signing a starting center back, but it is still not clear when that deal will be complete. 

The Timbers have been targeting a starting center back ever since Gbenga Arokoyo went down with a season-ending Achilles injury in late January. 

While Timbers coach Caleb Porter still hopes that the club will be able to sign a new center back before the start of the regular season on March 3, opening day is quickly approaching. 

"We're definitely adding a player," Porter said. "We're hoping to get that guy here before the season, but we also know it takes time to integrate that player."

If the Timbers are unable to sign a center back before the start of the regular season or don't feel like the new player has enough time to integrate into the team before opening day, it is likely that Portland will turn to veteran Lawrence Olum to start at center back against Minnesota United on March 3. Backup defender Roy Miller is not expected to join the Timbers until a few days before the game, making it unlikely that he would start in the match. 

Olum is an experienced defender. He spent five seasons with Sporting Kansas City before the Timbers acquired him in February to mostly provide depth at defensive midfield, but also be a potential backup at center back. Olum has shown well in his limited preseason minutes at center back with the Timbers this month. 

"That's one of the reasons we pulled the trigger on Lawrence because we knew if we couldn't get a guy in, that he could do it," Porter said. "He's shown he can do it. We're confident in him."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg

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