NYCFC looking to sign Georgian winger Papu out of Spain

NYCFC are looking to build on their best MLS season to date, and a new report out of Spain claims they have a transfer target in mind.

El Periodico de Aragon reported on Monday that NYCFC want to sign Georgian winger Giorgi Papunashvili, who goes by the nickname Papu. The 24-year-old plays for Spanish second-division club Real Zaragoza, and while the MLS club and player are said to be interested, the report claims recent changes at NYCFC mean a formal offer for the player hasn't been made yet.

Most notably, both head coach Dome Torrent and technical director Claudio Reyna have departed NYCFC in recent weeks, and the report claims the club isn't ready to get into discussions with Zaragoza until a new head coach is hired, to ensure the player would be in the manager's plans.

Papu began his career at Dinamo Tbilisi, and after an ill-fated loan move to German club Werder Bremen, he joined Real Zaragoza in 2017. A full Georgia international, he's scored three goals in 14 appearances to date for his country.