Despite Celtic’s progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League, the club looks set to lose talismanic striker Kyogo Furuhashi, who has jetted out to France to complete a shock move to Rennes.
While this will come as a disappointment to the Parkhead faithful, the team looks in a good position to secure another SPL championship, and any good results in Europe from this point will be a bonus.
Fans hoping to back their team for another league title will find popular places for football betting offering odds of around 1/1000 so there isn’t much money to be made.
However, sports betting expert Ciaran McEneaney explains that there is no shortage of markets and online bookmaker bonuses can help increase odds or stakes without additional risk.
This includes the top goalscorer market, with Celtic’s Nicholas Kuhn priced as 3/1 second favourite behind rivals Rangers’ Hamza Igamane.
Adam Idah at 12/1 could be a good outside chance now that he is likely to get more game time unless Celtic add to their squad before the January transfer window deadline on February 3rd.
Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes
The Japanese forward joined Celtic in July 2021 from Vissel Kobe and was one of a number of Japanese stars recruited by boss Ange Postecoglou who made the most of his understanding of the market.
The £4.5 million price tag has proved to be good value for money for a player who has 85 goals and 19 assists in 165 appearances for the club.
The forward turned 30 in January and had a contract with the club until 2027, but Celtic like to cash in on their assets, and this could be the right time for a move.
The club is set to net around £10 million for the Japanese ace, and a deal for former Parkhead favourite Jota to move away from the French club will soften the blow.
Jota Return
Jota’s first spell at Celtic was split across a loan move from Benfica in the 2021/22 season before he moved to Glasgow permanently when the club triggered his £6.5 million buyout clause.
The talented winger contributed with 28 goals and 26 assists from his 83 appearances.
His scintillating performances earned him a big-money move to Al-Ittihad where he teamed up with former Chelsea star N’Golo Kante and French legend Karim Benzema.
The £25 million move didn’t work out for the Portuguese winger who made just 25 appearances before moving to Rennes in a deal worth around £8.5 million in August 2024.
Just 1 goal and 1 assist in his spell in France has seen him being made available again with a return to Celtic almost complete.
Celtic’s Current Striking Options
As Kyogo moves on, Brendan Rogers finds himself light up front, with only Adam Idah and Johnny Kenny the outright forwards left at the club. Daizen Maeda, Nicholas Kuhn, Luis Palma, and Hyun-jun Yang can all deputise in the position if needs be, but he will be keen to add more firepower.
Adam Idah
Adam Idah joined Celtic from Norwich for £9.5 million in August 2024 after a successful loan spell saw him score 9 goals in 19 appearances.
The 6ft 3″ Republic of Ireland international has struggled to live up to his price tag this season and has just 8 goals from 32 games.
Johnny Kenny
Celtic’s other striking option comes in the shape of Johnny Kenny, a 21-year-old, 6ft 2″ striker who joined on a 5-year deal from Sligo Rovers in 2022.
Loan spells followed at Queen’s Park and Shamrock Rovers, but he has made just one substitute appearance for the Scottish giants.
Mathias Kvistgaarden’s Potential Move
Celtic have been strongly linked with two forwards during the winter break, including Aston Villa forward Louie Barry, who joined from Barcelona’s youth team and has impressed on loan at Stockport County.
A loan move for Barry could suit Celtic’s short-term needs, but a longer-term project could include the addition of the highly rated Mathias Kvistgaarden from Brondby.
Denmark under-21 forward Kvistgaarden has been linked with Celtic for some time now, and Brondby will be holding out for a club-record fee of around £13 million to let the striker leave.
He has been in fine form this year with 10 goals and 4 assists from 15 Superliga games, 2 goals in 4 Oddset Pokalen Cup games, and 2 goals and an assist in 3 Champions League qualifiers.
This impressive return has some of Europe’s top clubs on alert.
Like Kyogo, Kvistgaarden’s contract runs until 2027 so Celtic will have to invest a decent amount.
Still, at just 22 years of age and with the chance to play in Europe every season, his value could rise exponentially if a move is completed.
