Pat Noonan hints at potential transfer for FC Cincinnati's Brandon Vazquez | OneFootball

FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan hailed Brandon Vazquez for his performance throughout the 2022 MLS season, hinting at a potential transfer for the player given his talents.

“I would say that if he continues on this path, he's going to be gone,” Noonan said in a press conference on Wednesday. “That's my guess. Do we want to lose him? No. If he continues in the form that he is in, he can produce for us for a long time and that's what we want."

The forward is coming off his best season yet, recording 18 goals and eight assists in 33 games. He played a vital role in Cincinnati's attack, alongside his teammates in striker Brenner and midfielder Luciano Acosta, to reach fifth place on the Eastern Conference table and the MLS Cup Conference semifinals.

The team recognized Vazquez’s importance, signing him to a long-term contract in August that would keep him in Cincinnati through the 2025 MLS campaign with an added option for 2026.

But that doesn’t mean he’ll stay.

“For Brandon, the person [and] the player, if other opportunities come about and he's able to go onto something bigger and better, I think that's fantastic,” Noonan said.

“I think it's a sign of players being able to be a part of our staff and this club, being in position to develop to play at a higher level, wherever that is, whatever that means."

It will be a busy offseason for FC Cincinnati, as they prepare for the 2023 campaign.