Report: FC Cincinnati nearing a designated-player signing

For weeks, FC Cincinnati's been a known trader in the international market for designated-player caliber attacking options, and it appears they're preparing to close in on one.

A Monday report from The Athletic stated Cincinnati was preparing to finalize a deal for 26-year-old Yuya Kubo, a goal-scoring option from KAA Gent of the Belgian first-division.

Kubo, who The Athletic said would be on a designated-player contract in Cincinnati, is a Japanese international that also spent time in the German first-division (Bundesliga) with FC Nürnberg last season as part of a loan deal from Gent.

Kubo scored one goal while at Nürnberg.

Kubo scored 22 goals in club competition his first two years at Gent but hasn't seen as much of the field or the back of the net during the current season, going scoreless in six league appearances for Gent (he has, however, scored in Gent's other competitions).

Prior to signing for Gent, Kubo played at BSC Young Boys in Switzerland when he slammed in 26 league goals.

Kubo was involved in the Japanese men's national team youth setup prior to receiving his first senior international call-up in 2012. He made his full international debut in November 2016.

Kubo has 13 senior national team appearances to his name but hasn't played for Japan since March 2018.

As a designated player signing, Kubo would be the second of his kind in FC Cincinnati history after Fanendo Adi became the club's first-ever DP.

Adi was acquired in the final months of the club's three-stay in what is today called the USL Championship.

The club's first DP has so far left much to be desired in MLS, and Adi's future at the club remains in question.

Adi, who sources say has received interest from clubs abroad and specifically from Russia, scored once in 12 appearances during FC Cincinnati's inaugural MLS campaign.

Late in the season, Adi went public with his distaste for Cincinnati head coach Ron Jans, and the player later speculated that he didn't see a way for him to remain in at the club.

Absent reliable contributions from Adi and other players, Cincinnati was said to be in pursuit of "multiple impact players up front" for the upcoming season, sources close to the club told The Enquirer in December.

What the Yuya Kubo signing would mean for FC Cincinnati

You wouldn't quite call FC Cincinnati's personnel business this offseason an overhaul, but there will be more than a couple new faces around in 2020. After adding key pieces to the back line and expert distributor Haris Medunjanin to the midfield, Kubo's addition to the attack stands as arguably one of the most important signings in club history when you consider the context.

Kubo's had a couple scoring droughts in his career, but his experience in front of goal in unquestionable. And he's arriving at a moment when Cincinnati basically has one reliable option – Allan Cruz, who scored seven goals last year – in the attack and rostered for 2020.

Kubo may not be the biggest name or most decorated player to walk into an FC Cincinnati changing room. Fans might need to read up on Kubo's brand and his travels, but the club needs goals right now.

Kubo should be able to provide them with goals.

FC Cincinnati scored just 31 times last season – far and away the fewest in MLS. The club's attack through the early and middle stages of 2019 was marred by a lack of creativity and disciplined, functional chance-taking.

The number of should-have-been and near-miss goals that went begging were too many to count.

You look at an highlight package of Kubo or read any description about him and it's immediately clear that he is a simple but mercilessly consistent finisher when he's "on."

Should Kubo sign for FC Cincinnati this week, the club will have addressed a large chunk of those near misses from last season. This could-be signing would immediately makes FC Cincinnati a better team, if only on paper.