Colorado is close to striking deal with center forward Boli

The Rapids are closing in on a deal with striker Yannick Boli, according to multiple reports.

Boli, who was born in France and moved to the Ivory Coast, is a 30-year-old center forward who plays for Dalian Yifang of the Chinese first division. Last season, he scored 16 goals in 24 appearances for his Chinese club. Boli has 74 goals in 190 club appearances.

The Rapids declined to comment on the deal.

Jeff Carlisle of ESPN reported that Boli passed a medical exam for the Rapids on Tuesday in London. Sam Stejskal, who broke the story for MLS’s official website, said the Rapids would use targeted allocation money in the deal.

Stejskal reported that Dalian Yifang bought out Boli’s contract after signing Yannick Carrasco and Noco Gaitain from Atletico Madrid in January.

Boli came up through the Paris Saint-Germain youth system, making his first team debut with the Parisian club in 2007.

He spent time in the second division in France from 200811 before joining in 2012 a Bulgarian club, Chernomorets, where he scored nine goals in 23 appearances.

He played for FC Zorya Luhansk of the Ukrainian Premier League from 2013-14, scoring 14 goals in 38 games, then moved to FC Anzhi Makhachkala of the Russian Premier League, scoring 28 goals in 56 games across all competitions from 2014-17.

Boli would join an attack that includes the recently signed striker Joe Mason, formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Dominique Badji and Jack McBean, who started up top for the Rapids in their MLS opener.

Colorado also has rookie striker Niki Jackson, who scored his first career goal Saturday at New England on his first touch in MLS.