Atlanta United are eyeing up a £10 million deal for Celtic frontman Kyogo Furuhashi in January
The Americans are considering making an offer for the Hoops striker during the January transfer window, according to Stephen McGowan.
However, Celtic does not want a hampered transfer window, and losing one of their key players would seem unfathomable given the important Champions League games they have against BSC Young Boys and Aston Villa coming up next month.
Former Hoops boss Ronny Deila just took over the MLS team, and in the upcoming weeks, the new Norwegian manager is thinking about making a move for Celtic’s Japanese striker.
This year, Deila briefly played for Al-Wahda in Abu Dhabi, but the allure of going back to the United States for a second stint in Major League Soccer was too great.
During his three years in Glasgow, Kyogo has made 155 appearances for Celtic, scoring 81 goals across all competitions since being signed by Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2021.
In addition to his £4.5 million transfer fee from Japanese team Vissel Kobe, Kyogo has scored goals in games against the Rangers on multiple occasions, including in the Champions League and cup finals.
With Celtic forking out £9.5 million for Adam Idah from Norwich City in the summer, Kyogo’s minutes under Brendan Rodgers this season have been slightly reduced – with competition for places in the front area of the pitch heating up.
Undoubtedly, the 29 year-old whose contract runs until the summer of 2027 will be aiming to replicate the form during his first two seasons with the Scottish champions in the second half of the season if he stays.
The goals seemed to have dried up of late, but Kyogo remains an important player for Rodgers, and is in an integral part of Celtic’s continuous domestic success.
However Celtic will appreciate that Kyogo, who will turn 30 on 20 January 2025, will be an ongoing depreciating asset and may choose to take what may be the last chance to move on the player and more than doubling the fee paid to Vissel Kobe.
That money could be re-invested in a younger striker of Brendan’s choosing and it’s not an option that Celtic will dismiss without giving it serious consideration. In modern football, even player has his price. Even Kyogo.
