We need Kyogo more than we need €12 million. If he does indeed leave we need a top quality replacement coming in to replace him…

Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates after scoring a goal which is later disallowed following an offside decision during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The news that French side Rennes have made a bid for Kyogo came as a shock to the Celtic supporters in the aftermath of clinching a place in the UEFA Champions League play offs.

The Brittany side are said to have bid €12 million (around £10 million) for our Japanese talisman, with talks said to be progressing towards a deal being done. While to some that would represent good value for a 30 year old we signed for £4.5 million, it could prove to be a huge mistake in sanctioning his transfer at this stage of the season.

UEFA Champions League Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern, Celtic Park. Goal celebration by Kyogo Furuhashi however VAR rules out the goal. Photo Joeran Steinsiek IMAGO

Of course the player himself might want to test himself at a new level, and that would be fine as he owes us nothing due to the success he’s brought us in his near four year stay at the club, but we would need to replace him with a similar quality of player or if not better.

Kyogo Furuhashi scoring a goal which is later disallowed following an offside decision during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and BSC Young Boys at Celtic Park on January 22, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

£10 million is a decent amount of money, but we need Kyogo more than the money that’s for sure.

A possible return for Jota softens the blow

Jota of Celtic celebrates with teammates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League group F match between RB Leipzig and Celtic FC at Red Bull Arena on October 05, 2022. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

Reports of a possible return for Jota softens the blow a little, but the Portuguese playmaker is a completely different player from Kyogo, and he wouldn’t be a ready made replacement. Jota is also going to need time to get himself up to speed, time he wasn’t given by Rennes.

Of course Daizen Maeda can play the central role and we have Adam Idah, but for me we need to fully replace Kyogo if he does indeed leave the club.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy