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

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

Having been mooted as a potential target for Premier League champions, Manchester City, over the summer, an exit for the former Vissel Kobe striker did appear inevitable at some stage, with his return of 85 goals in 165 games at Parkhead having unsurprisingly not gone unnoticed.

That said, to have allowed the 30-year-old to depart mid-season – and to a struggling French side, no less – is a decision that will continue to come under scrutiny, not least as the Hoops prepare for a Champions League playoff tie against Bayern Munich next week.

The Old Firm giants did at least manage to rake in a £10m fee for a player who had cost them just £4.6m back in the summer of 2021, yet after spending £8m of those funds on Jota’s homecoming – alongside bringing in Jeffrey Schlupp on loan – no further permanent moves were made before the window slammed shut.

Celtic’s failed pursuit of a striker

To have allowed the window to come and go without replacing Kyogo is a puzzling move for the Parkhead hierarchy to have made, with club legend Chris Sutton having stated that Brendan Rodgers and co were in need of a “top class centre forward” as the deadline drew closer.

There may be wisdom in avoiding overpaying or rushing into a panic buy, with the summer window not too far away, yet having likely been aware of Kyogo’s desire to depart for months, it is difficult to understand why an adequate successor was not lined up.

It had looked at one stage that the Hoops were pushing on in an attempt to revive their interest in former target, Mathis Kvistgaarden, albeit with Brondby holding firm over their desire not to sell the 22-year-old marksman.

The Danish striker has been in red-hot form this season with 14 goals in all competitions, ensuring he could have been a worthy, long-term rival for Adam Idah in the Celtic ranks.

That pursuit was also followed by apparent interest in Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho – whom Rodgers had worked with at Leicester City – although the Nigerian ultimately signed on the dotted line for Middlesbrough, with the Scottish champions left empty-handed.

While Rodgers does have £9.5m man, Idah, to call upon – as well as ex-Shamrock Rovers loanee, Johnny Kenny – the Northern Irishman may need to get creative to find his new Kyogo over the coming months.

The Celtic star who could replace Kyogo

With just six Premiership goals to his name this season – and 11 in all competitions – Idah hasn’t quite picked up where he left off last time around, scoring nine times in just 19 games after initially signing on loan from Norwich City.

His recent brace against Aston Villa in the Champions League has further outlined his potential, but if Rodgers is looking to find a striker in the mould of Kyogo, then perhaps Daizen Maeda is the man.

With Jota able to slot in on the left flank, while Nicolas Kuhn remains on the opposite side, deploying Maeda through the middle may be the perfect solution to fitting all three attackers into the starting lineup.

Maeda’s Celtic record by position
Position	Games	Goals	Assists
Left-winger	94	33	19
Right-winger	21	2	3
Centre-forward	11	8	2
Left-midfielder	1	0	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

The 22-cap Japan international has rarely featured in that central berth for Celtic, although – as indicated above – it has worked wonders when he has done so, with ten goal involvements in just 11 outings as the number nine, according to Transfermarkt.

Equally, the 27-year-old has regularly operated ahead of Kyogo in that role for his country, having been hailed as “an absolute livewire” by pundit Rio Ferdinand at the 2022 World Cup.

Also lauded as a “one-man closing down machine” by Sutton in the past, the relentless forward is the perfect option to lead the press as the spearhead of the attack, mimicking his compatriot in never giving a defender a moment’s peace.

What also gives Maeda an advantage over Idah is just how prolific he has been already this season, having scored 16 times – while registering eight assists – in all competitions.

There may be the issue of why should the former Yokohama man be relocated if he is already thriving, yet with Jota now back in the picture, that new look attack could truly wreak havoc on the rest of the Premiership.

Idah, it must be said, offers a great focal point and physical presence at 6 foot 3, yet if it is a Kyogo replacement Rodgers is after, then Maeda may well be the perfect in-house solution.