Valentin Castellanos led NYCFC with six goals in 2020. (Photo courtesy of MLS)

The last thing New York City FC needs is to lose another attacking option.

But it could happen.

Forward Valentin Castellanos has been linked with 2020 Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras, according to a report by Argentina-based journalist German Garcia Grova.

Castellanos, 22, an Argentenine Under-23 international, would join the Brazilian Serie A side on a year’s loan with an option to buy, according to the report.

Should the 5-10, 154-lb. Castellanos join Palmeiras, it would be the second loan of an attacking player by City in the past four months. The club loaned Alexandru Mitrita to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli Saudi FC through Jan. 31, 2022.

Taty, as he is nicknamed, scored a team-high six goals for NYCFC in 2020, adding three assists. He has tallied 18 goals and 10 assists over 42 starts and 60 matches.

NYCFC lost Brazilian Heber to a knee injury last year, greatly hampering the attack.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.