This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Reports out of Venezuela indicate one of Real Salt Lake's transfer-window targets is 20-year-old attacker Jefferson Savarino. A day after rumors and reports that RSL was in the mix to sign the forward/winger who plays for Zulia FC in Venezuela, Savarino himself went on a radio station in Venezuela confirming he's moving to RSL.

RSL, through a team spokesman, offered no comment on the potential move.

Savarino fits the bill for what RSL has been chasing the last four months. RSL general manager Craig Waibel has repeatedly said he and the front office want to fortify RSL's attacking depth on the wide forward positions. The 20-year-old has scored six goals and notched two assists with Zulia FC so far this season and has played a role in the club's time in the Copa Libertadores — the South American version of Champions League — netting a goal in the tournament.

Last week, Waibel told the Tribune RSL would very likely make a move before the close of the primary transfer window on Monday, May 8. The RSL general manager did add a wrinkle, adding that the signing in the works would be a player acquired on loan with an option clause to purchase full rights at the end of the 2017 season.

"At this point, we fully anticipate being able to announce an addition," Waibel said. "We're very conservative with getting too far into it, because we don't want to jeopardize not only the documentation, but also the paperwork involved in it."

Could this player be Savarino?

In the interview Wednesday morning, the young Venezuelan told the radio station that the potential move to RSL is a big step in his career and that his new club "is a great team of the MLS." Savarino said he remains in the process of obtaining his Visa, which hints at what Waibel said a week ago.

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani