According to the Washington Post, a top candidate has emerged to fill the vacant sporting director role at RBNY: Erik Soler. The former Norwegian international is currently a co-owner and chairman of the board at IK Start, which employs former Metro Hunter Freeman. Other than that, he has no direct linkage to American soccer.

Soler, like Red Bull sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer, spent time in the 1980s with German club Hamburger SV. He has also been a player agent and TV commentator.

Update: SoccerByIves reports that Soler's "appointment is essentially a done deal".