Reported NYCFC coaching target Giovanni van Bronckhorst headed to China

A prominently reported coaching target for NYCFC is about to be off the market. 

According to De Telegraaf, City Football Group's Giovanni van Bronckhorst is headed to China to join Guangzhou R&F. The club finished 12th of 16 teams in the 2019 Chinese Super League and currently have a head coach, though a change could be made. Former Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele features for the club.

The report adds that Van Bronckhorst rejected "several" offers from other clubs, the biggest of which from NYCFC. 

Van Bronckhorst was heavily linked with NYCFC this offseason, given his ties to City Football Group. He was the head coach of Feyenoord for four seasons, his first head coaching gig. 

During his time at Feyenoord, Van Bronckhorst brought the club an Eredivisie title in 2017, their first in nearly two decades. He also won two KNVB Cups (2016, ‘18) and a pair of Johan Cruyff Shields (2017, ‘18). During his playing days, Van Bronckhorst played for the Netherlands at three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2006, ‘10) and, beyond Feyenoord, featured for Arsenal, Rangers and Barcelona. He primarily featured as a left back.

Dome Torrent guided NYCFC to club-record point total this season, helping the Cityzens qualify for the Concacaf Champions League for the first time. With their opening CCL match coming on February 20, the club report for preseason on January 11. 

NYCFC are the last MLS club this offseason with a head coaching vacancy, after Inter Miami CF appointed Diego Alonso.