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Portland Timbers are reportedly set to appoint former Leicester City manager Martí Cifuentes as their new head coach, according to Tom Bogert of The Athletic.

The Western Conference side currently have interim manager Jack Cassidy in charge following Phil Neville’s departure earlier in the spring.

With Major League Soccer resuming after the World Cup, the club has now decided to bring in the 44-year-old Spaniard. The reported decision centres around his “tactical intelligence” and “attacking style of play.”

The transition from Cassidy to Cifuentes is expected to take place once the new manager’s visa process is completed.

Cifuentes was dismissed by Leicester City in January, even though the team was sitting 14th in the Championship table and only six points away from a playoff spot. After his exit, Leicester were eventually relegated. Earlier, during the 2023/24 season, Cifuentes had guided Queens Park Rangers from second-bottom to safety.

While his offensive approach has impressed Portland’s scouting department, the coach will also need to strengthen a fragile defence in the latter half of the campaign. The Timbers have allowed the third-highest number of goals (29) in just 14 matches so far this season.

This run of form has left the Timbers positioned 11th in the Western Conference standings, six points clear of the bottom spot.

Nevertheless, the team made a strong return to league action, thrashing rivals Seattle Sounders 5-1 under Cassidy’s management on Thursday.