Belgian side Genk are in talks with Celtic over a move for 23 year-old South Korean striker Oh Hyeon-gyu.

27th May 2023. Angus MacDonald of Aberdeen and Oh Hyeon-Gyu of Celtic during the Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park, Neil Hanna / Sportimage

Oh has fallen out of favour at the club and did not feature at all in the final three months of last season after failing to impress Brendan Rodgers. The Celtic manager instead looked to the Norwich City loanee Adam Idah as his second striker alongside Japan’s Kyogo Furuhashi and those two shared the striker duties since February as Celtic closed in on a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

Journalist Scott Burns, who has a decent record in transfer stories, reports this evening (via Daily Record) that talks have already taken place between the clubs over a possible move to Belgium for the Celtic striker. Sources in Belgium have update Burns on Oh being a top priority summer signing for Genk who scored five goals for Celtic last season, with limited game-time.

Celtic v Dundee – Oh Hyeon-Gyu during the Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday September 16, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan

It was clear that Adam Idah, who starts for Ireland alongside Liam Scales, in their friendly international away to Portugal this evening, represented a major upgrade for Celtic and it’s hard to see Oh re-gaining his place in the Celtic team.

Very much like the developing story around a Celtic exit for Gustaf Lagerbielke as we reported earlier, this one looks like a move that will suit both Celtic and the player, particularly of the Belgian side want to sign Oh on a permanent contract.

The transfer window opens on Friday and already things are beginning to hot up!

Gustaf Lagerbielke of Celtic FC during the UEFA Champions League match between Feyenoord and Celtic FC at Feyenoord Stadion de Kuip on September 19, 2023.Photo VI ANP Sport Jeroen Putmans