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The reigning MLS Cup champions Portland Timbers are poised to acquire out-of-contract forward Jack McInerney from the Columbus Crew SC in exchange for an unspecified amount of allocation money, sources have told ESPNFC.com. Those sources wouldn't confirm whether the funds being sent to Columbus consisted of regular allocation money or targeted allocation money, but they indicated that McInerney has agreed terms on a new contract. Formal announcement of the deal could come as soon as Monday. #INSERT type:image caption:The Portland Timbers are near a deal with Jack McInerney, sources say. END# Portland had been looking for frontline reinforcements after losing Maximiliano Urruti to F.C. Dallas in stage one of the MLS re-entry draft and McInerney, 23, should provide some critical depth behind forward Fanendo Adi. McInerney broke in with the Philadelphia Union back in 2010 as a 17-year-old, and showed some promise with the club. He forged a reputation as a classic goal poacher, recording 25 goals and 4 assists in 97 league and playoff appearances, 54 of them starts. His best season in Philadelphia came in 2013 when he led the Union with 12 goals in 31 appearances. But McInerney was abruptly traded just weeks into the 2014 campaign, heading to the Montreal Impact in exchange for forward Andrew Wenger. He went to score 11 goals in 43 appearances for the Impact, 34 of them starts. With his contract winding down, McInerney found himself on the move again in 2015, and was traded to Columbus last August in exchange for the Crew's natural second round selection in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. He went on to record two goals and one assist in seven league and playoff appearances for the Crew. McInerney's contract expired at the end of the 2015 season, but Columbus retained his rights after making an attempt to re-sign him. Now McInerney will join manager Caleb Porter as the Timbers attempt to repeat as MLS Cup champions. McInerney is a former U.S. youth international, having represented the U.S. at U17, U20, and U23 level.
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