TRANSFER TRACKER:Report
UPDATE (Feb. 3, 11:14 am ET): A new report from Bild claims Bobby Wood turned down an offer, reportedly less than 1 million euros, from FC Cincinnati. The outlet reports his agent is shopping the forward to other MLS squads.
Feb. 29: After spending his entire professional career in Germany, Hamburger SV forward Bobby Wood could be returning stateside to join FC Cincinnati, according to a report from Bild.
Wood, 27, finds himself on the fringe at Hamburg, especially after Finnish striker Joel Pohjanpalo recently joined on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. So far this season, Wood has only registered 152 minutes of playing time across six matches for the 2. Bundesliga club, with his last appearance coming on November 29 against VfL Osnabruck. He was subbed off at halftime of a 2-1 defeat.
Wood, who has 13 goals and 45 caps for the US men’s national team, has struggled to hit second gear with Hamburg and on loan at Hannover 96. He moved to the former after his 2015-2016 season at 1.FC Union Berlin saw him net 17 goals, setting the record for an American in either of Germany’s top two divisions. Wood last scored a professional goal in a November 25, 2018 match for Hannover against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Any move for Wood would signify Cincy’s second major attacking addition ahead of the 2020 MLS campaign, after they landed Japanese forward Yuya Kubo as a Designated Player from Belgian side K.A.A. Gent. FC Cincinnati GM Gerard Nijkamp made it clear that Kubo can play in several positions in the attack, highlighting that versatility when his acquisition was announced in early January.
Entering their first full season under head coach Ron Jans, FC Cincinnati are looking to improve upon last year’s league-worst outlay of 31 goals scored. During their expansion season in 2019, Costa Rican midfielder Allan Cruz was their leading scorer with seven goals and Cincy recently exercised a buyout option on 2019 Designated Player and forward Fanendo Adi who scored just one league goal for the club.
