Four moves NYCFC should make before the 2022 MLS Season

NYCFC must cash in on Taty Castellanos in the winter transfer window

Few people expected Taty Castellanos to be a viable, long-term replacement for Hèber following the latter’s devastating ACL injury in 2020. Even fewer thought Taty would become one of MLS’s best strikers in that time span. Nevertheless, here we are one year later, and Taty has not only won the 2021 MLS Golden Boot, he’s also a hot commodity.

NYCFC had to practically beat Brazilian club Palmeiras off with a stick back in the spring when they put in multiple bids to bring in Castellanos. Though the Argentinian forward was in a bit of a goalscoring slump, NYCFC repeatedly turned down Palmerias’ inquiries before locking Castellanos up to a long-term, five-year deal that all but ensured City would have the final word when it came time for him to move on.

After winning the MLS Cup and establishing himself as a potential star, there is little left for Castellanos to do or prove in America’s top flight. And as of right now, the Premier League’s West Ham United and Turkey’s Besiktas are at the forefront of the Taty Castellanos sweepstakes.

If I’m in NYCFC’s front office, I’m cashing in on Taty as soon as humanly possible for any deal upwards of $15 million with future incentives included. Taty is a great player and one more year in the Bronx would be an absolute treat. But with the highly touted, Young DP Talles Magno waiting to crack into the starting lineup, the infrastructure is there to keep NYCFC viable in 2022, with or without Taty in the fold.

Strike while the iron’s hot, and cash in those chips.

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