GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 07: Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates after scoring to make it 3-0 during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park, on December 07, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Stephen McGowan has dampened down expectations that Kyogo Furuhashi is poised to return to Celtic.
For weeks hoops fans have looked on from afar as their former hero toiled to make an impact at Birmingham City.
With Celtic toiling in front of goal many supporters were putting two and two together and wishing for a re-union.
KYOGO TIMELINE…
January 1 came and went but just before noon on January 8 Robert Grieve reported that a move was underway.
Transfer activity at Celtic is notoriously laboured, rarely does a deal get pushed through.
Even with the urgency of bringing in a striker it looks like there will be no new faces at training this morning as Martin O’Neill tries to impose his stamp on a misfiring squad.
McGowan has a track record going back the best part of 20 years of being very accurate with Celtic transfer news.
Initially in The Herald then in The Celtic Way, McGowan reported:
Celtic face an uphill battle to persuade Kyogo Furuhashi to return to Glasgow on loan.
The Scottish champions are in the market for attacking reinforcements in the winter window.
And interim boss Martin O’Neill would jump at the chance to take the Japanese striker back to Parkhead.
Sold to Rennes for £10million 12 months ago, the 30-year-old failed to score in France.
And since moving to English Championship Birmingham his only goal has come in a League Cup win over Sheffield United back in August.
Earning £40,000 a week in English football, agreement on a percentage of the striker’s salary is not the only potential obstacle standing in the way of an agreement before Saturday’s Premiership clash with Dundee United.
Celtic have been warned that the fans’ favourite is reluctant to give up the ghost in Birmingham and will need some persuasion to return to Scottish football, where he scored 85 goals in 165 appearances and secured eight major honours.
Resigning Kyogo would seem to be the simplest of moves for Celtic to complete.
TRANSFERS, TRANSFERS, TRANSFERS
The player knows the club, the opponents, the expectations.
Games against Dundee United, Falkirk and Auchinleck Talbot over the next 10 days give him an opportunity to settle in and get back among the goals.
No new signings can play away to Bologna on January 22 but they will certainly be needed away to Hearts three days later.
O’Neill will host a media conference early this afternoon. There will be media access to training this morning where a scan will be made of who is involved in the session.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Sarrachi have both been out with hamstring/muscle injuries but don’t appear to be on the long term injury list.
Transfer questions are likely to dominate today’s media conferences.
I can’t see MON being keen on this loan. He needs a striker who is firing at this moment in time. Thanks for the memories, but no thanks, you made your bed, lie in it.
Rodger’s scampered away Twice. Remarkable he still has cheerleaders from Celtic supporters..
Editor: Remarkable that he came back to get shafted again by the man that never read the Five Way Agreement of 2012, remarkable.
Remarkable trophy winning record, succeeded by Wilf Soccer Guy!
He inherited A Double Treble, Champions team full of good players..
He scampered leaving the worst Celtic side for 20 years..
Amazingly he’s fooled the foolish.
Editor: He won 11 out of 13 domestic trophies.
He won 12 Champions League points in a season, covering up for the wholly inadequate Lawwell and Nicholson.
It will be long long long long time before Celtic play again in the Champions League, even longer till they win 12 points.
Kind regards to your mates over on Celtic Thick News.
Gracie from the sun , Another exclusive this morning on his Toxic pal.
I’m sure they are more than chums . With there little story’s
This latest Kyogo story is probably another
Toxic piece Towards the club. he claims to love. Well we all know he’s a compulsive lair.
The old rumour mill is really turning round now ..isn’t it ..at pace? If Mr Desmond would take 30 minutes from the front nine wherever he is hitting a ball in the sun to spell out his vision for Celtic ,that would go along way to calm the nerves of all Celtic FC fans . One interview on Celtic TV detailing the here and now and the immediate future …that would be a happy new year for us all . That’s not too much to ask or hope for .. surely !
Did Mike the mute not p*ss Birmingham about with the Yang deal
They’re probably just laughing at us
Could Be A Valid Point??
Pay £2.5m for Varga, job done……
HH
I dont care atm, we need goals and now!, if its kyogo i dont care.
That said will the missus n kids will relocate for us ? Doubtful.
And brenda warned us all it would not be pretty if we failed the windows and here we are
Boomerang FC ? 🙁
Go out and get a known striker [out of favour / surplus] from e.g. the EPL
on loan – and just pay the high wages to season end.
There must be a few…?
Surely the English Championship would Provide Opportunities?
All Scummy Scottish Football Media Scumbags are PATHOLOGICAL LIARS !