Celtic can find the next Kyogo by handing Celtic star new role

And so, it is lastly over. That gloriously fruitful Celtic and Kyogo Furuhashi relationship has come to an finish, with the Japanese sensation embarking for pastures new at Ligue 1 outfit, Rennes.

Having been mooted as a possible goal for Premier League champions, Manchester Metropolis, over the summer season, an exit for the previous Vissel Kobe striker did seem inevitable at some stage, together with his return of 85 targets in 165 video games at Parkhead having unsurprisingly not gone unnoticed.

That mentioned, to have allowed the 30-year-old to depart mid-season – and to a struggling French facet, no much less – is a call that can proceed to return beneath scrutiny, not least because the Hoops put together for a Champions League playoff tie towards Bayern Munich subsequent week.

The Outdated Agency giants did not less than handle to rake in a £10m payment for a participant who had value them simply £4.6m again in the summertime of 2021, but after spending £8m of these funds on Jota’s homecoming – alongside bringing in Jeffrey Schlupp on mortgage – no additional everlasting strikes have been made earlier than the window slammed shut.

Celtic’s failed pursuit of a striker

To have allowed the window to return and go with out changing Kyogo is a puzzling transfer for the Parkhead hierarchy to have made, with membership legend Chris Sutton having said that Brendan Rodgers and co have been in want of a “prime class centre ahead” because the deadline drew nearer.

There could also be knowledge in avoiding overpaying or speeding right into a panic purchase, with the summer season window not too distant, but having probably been conscious of Kyogo’s want to depart for months, it’s obscure why an satisfactory successor was not lined up.

It had checked out one stage that the Hoops have been pushing on in an try to revive their curiosity in former goal, Mathis Kvistgaarden, albeit with Brondby holding agency over their want to not promote the 22-year-old marksman.

The Danish striker has been in red-hot kind this season with 14 targets in all competitions, making certain he may have been a worthy, long-term rival for Adam Idah within the Celtic ranks.

That pursuit was additionally adopted by obvious curiosity in Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho – whom Rodgers had labored with at Leicester Metropolis – though the Nigerian in the end signed on the dotted line for Middlesbrough, with the Scottish champions left empty-handed.

Whereas Rodgers does have £9.5m man, Idah, to name upon – in addition to ex-Shamrock Rovers loanee, Johnny Kenny – the Northern Irishman could have to get artistic to seek out his new Kyogo over the approaching months.

The Celtic star who may change Kyogo

With simply six Premiership targets to his identify this season – and 11 in all competitions – Idah hasn’t fairly picked up the place he left off final time round, scoring 9 instances in simply 19 video games after initially signing on mortgage from Norwich Metropolis.

His latest brace towards Aston Villa within the Champions League has additional outlined his potential, but when Rodgers is trying to discover a striker within the mould of Kyogo, then maybe Daizen Maeda is the person.

With Jota in a position to slot in on the left flank, whereas Nicolas Kuhn stays on the other facet, deploying Maeda via the center would be the good answer to becoming all three attackers into the beginning lineup.

The 22-cap Japan worldwide has not often featured in that central berth for Celtic, though – as indicated above – it has labored wonders when he has accomplished so, with ten purpose involvements in simply 11 outings because the quantity 9, based on Transfermarkt.

Equally, the 27-year-old has repeatedly operated forward of Kyogo in that position for his nation, having been hailed as “an absolute livewire” by pundit Rio Ferdinand on the 2022 World Cup.

Additionally lauded as a “one-man closing down machine” by Sutton prior to now, the relentless ahead is the right choice to steer the press because the spearhead of the assault, mimicking his compatriot in by no means giving a defender a second’s peace.

What additionally offers Maeda a bonus over Idah is simply how prolific he has been already this season, having scored 16 instances – whereas registering eight assists – in all competitions.

There would be the problem of why ought to the previous Yokohama man be relocated if he’s already thriving, but with Jota now again within the image, that new look assault may really wreak havoc on the remainder of the Premiership.

Idah, it have to be mentioned, provides an important focus and bodily presence at 6 foot 3, but if it’s a Kyogo alternative Rodgers is after, then Maeda might be the right in-house answer.