Minnesota United appears to be credibly linked to Swedish center back Victor Eriksson, the Pioneer Press has learned.

Reporter Anel Avdic of Sport Expressen said Monday that Eriksson is picking between the Loons and IFK Norrkoping in Sweden’s top league, Allsvenskan.

MMUFC is in the market this winter for a center back to compete with returning starters Micky Tapias and Michael Boxall. The depth is threadbare with Bakaye Dibassy and Brent Kallman let go after the end of the 2023 season. First-round draft pick Hugo Bacharach also will factor in at this position.

The Loons are looking to loan out fellow Swedish defender Michael Marques for the upcoming season. That move would free up an international roster spot to bring in a foreign center back such as Eriksson.

Eriksson, 23, has been a key piece at IFK Varnamo for the past few seasons, helping the Swedish club earn promotions up to the Allsvenskan. He played more than 2,500 minutes in the past two seasons, according to wyscout.

Listed at 6-foot-4, Eriksson debuted for the Swedish men’s national team in 2023.

New MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad was raised in Sweden and served as head of recruitment for Djurgarden Elitfotboll in the Allsvenskan for four years.

Briefly

MNUFC has agreed to a contract with Derek Dodson, a 25-year-old fullback who played more than 3,000 minutes for Charleston Battery in 2023 and was named Players’ Choice Best XI in the USL Championship last season. The Illinois native was drafted eighth by Orlando City in 2021 and has also played at USL clubs Hartford and Memphis. … Costa Rican midfielder Alejandro Bran was expected to be close to coming aboard MNUFC on a loan deal, a source said Friday. … In December, the Loons declined a 2024 contract option for goalkeeper Fred Emmings, but the St. Paul native is expected back for 2024 on an MNUFC2 developmental team contract. Emmings, now 19, was the club’s first homegrown signing in January 2020.  … Loons equipment staffers Ryan Natusch and Sean Bigness both left the club in the offseason. They are part of a larger group of recent departures, including Donnie Fuller, the head athletic trainer, and Sean Buckley, the head of sports science. … Homegrown forward Patrick Weah is still expected to be loaned out for this season. The club already has loaned out left back Ethan Bristow to Stockport County in League Two in England.

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