Report: Timbers near $3M swoop for San Lorenzo's Sebastian Blanco

The Portland Timbers are close to picking up San Lorenzo winger Sebastian Blanco amid interest from Liga MX colossus Club America, league sources told ESPN FC’s Jeff Carlisle, corroborating other reports.

A deal is nearing fruition, and Blanco’s believed to incur a transfer fee potentially exceeding $3 million, plus $1.5 million in wages, reports Carlisle.

It’s hoped that Blanco, 28, would sufficiently fill the void left by Lucas Melano’s loan deal to Atletico Belgrano, and forge a potent three-pronged attack with Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri.

Blanco enhanced his reputation through spells with Lanus in his native Argentina and with Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv. An ill-fated switch to West Bromwich Albion ahead of the 2014-15 season threw a spanner in the works until he rebuilt his career with San Lorenzo.

While at Lanus, Blanco won two caps for Argentina. He made his debut in a 3-1 defeat of Panama in 2009 before bagging a goal in a 4-0 dismissal of Haiti a year later.