Dundee could yet revive their pursuit of Celtic defender Colby Donovan after a summer move failed to materialise…
The Dens Park club had been close to securing the highly rated right-back on loan before an injury to Celtic first-choice Alistair Johnston forced the Hoops to halt the deal in the last week of the window.
Donovan – who is capped at Scotland Under-21 level – has since been in and around the Celtic first team, gaining valuable minutes but largely operating on the periphery following the arrival of Wilfried Nancy.
That situation may now shift with Martin O’Neill returning to the dugout, having previously shown faith in the teenager during his first spell in charge this season. The Celtic manager could be asked about this today by the mainstream media (yep, were still banned) and if Martin decides to keep Colby around the squad for the rest of the season, that will certainly disappoint Dundee manager Steven Pressley aka Elvis.
According to Daily Record, Dundee remain keen and are monitoring developments closely, with the Premiership outfit ready to move should Donovan fall outside O’Neill’s long-term plans for the remainder of the campaign.
Celtic have already bolstered their defensive options, bringing in Julian Araujo on loan from Bournemouth, with the full-back making his first appearance off the bench in the Glasgow Derby clash against theRangers last weekend. While Johnston is still sidelined, Anthony Ralston also provides cover in that position.
In other news, Celtic could be poised for a surprise reunion with former forward Kyogo Furuhashi, with reports suggesting the Japanese striker may be heading back to Glasgow only 12 months after his departure.
Celtic are actively searching for added firepower as they look to strengthen their attacking options.
As revealed by Scottish Sun, Furuhashi has emerged as a leading option to fill that gap.
During his previous spell at the Scottish champions, the 30-year-old fans-favourite registered an impressive 85 goals from 165 appearances after arriving from Vissel Kobe in 2021 for £4.5 million.
Kyogo was sold to French side Rennes in a £10 million deal last January, but the report claims a loan switch back to Celtic until the end of the current campaign is now being explored.
A report yesterday indicated that Kyogo would ‘need convincing’ yet given his predicament since leaving Celtic in both Rennes and now Birmingham, you would have thought that a regular starting spot back at Paradise would have appealed.
Yesterday we listened to Henrik Larsson describe Celtic as his club because that’s where he made his name. Remind me where did Kyogo make his?
I’d take Kyogo back but this can’t rumble on much longer. Either he wants to comeback or not. I loved him at Celtic but he’s had a stinker since he left. He owes it to the club to make a quick decision. If he needs convincing as being reported then the club should look elsewhere.
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) January 8, 2026
Conor Spence
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Any potential loan deal for Donovan, won’t be happening until the back end of January at the earliest imo?
We still have 2 europa league games left, with only ralston and Donovan available, within a return of a back 4 expected under MoN and Maloney.
After that, then a loan move for Donovan would possibly be the sensible solution, under the circumstances involved within the RB position. AJ and ralston will both have an eye upon the world cup at the end of the season, along with Julian having potential conditions attached to his loan deal regarding playing time imo?
The possibly return of kyogo?
A squad was finished in September, with 3 options as strikers, along with 2 in Osmand and Shin as development options, but all 5 are still under contract.
The injuries to kelchi and Osmand hardly helped matters, especially as Maeda had to move to the left, with Seb away.
Wouldn’t say that there was to much wrong with the plans taken, within the decision making regarding the striker position in September?
But such plans haven’t been successful, hardly helped by the injuries to kelchi and Osmand.
Maeda remains a shadow of a player from last season, and Kenny hasn’t taken the chance that was made available to himself.
So was always going to be doubtful that any more involvement was going to be applied within the striker position before this summer imo?
So wouldn’t be spoilt for choice upon strikers available at a mid season point, for the quality we are looking for.
So can understand the interest in kyogo again, with MoN trying to reinstall the confidence within kyogo as a player, along with a footballing style that may benefit kyogo and ourselves more so imo?
As a total rebuild is expected during the summer period, and in a position now of trying to salvage our season?
Then trying to get a potential better option than kyogo for ourselves, won’t be easily found with all the circumstances involved imo?
Keep Donovan
Gie them Ralston