The future of Birmingham City striker Kyogo Furuhashi is under intense scrutiny, with the Japanese forward linked with a sensational return to former club Celtic.
Birmingham City's Stance on a Potential Exit
Despite a difficult start to life in England, Blues manager Chris Davies has made it clear the club has no plans to let the 30-year-old leave this month. Kyogo has failed to score in 23 Championship appearances since his July move from Rennes, starting only seven of those games.
Addressing the mounting speculation, Davies stated: "Kyogo is our player who has been playing more matches recently than he has done in the last few months. The plan is that Kyogo continues in that vein - gets his goals and gets his game moving."
He added firmly: "We’ve had no discussions at the moment about anything other than Kyogo giving his best and doing his best for Birmingham City. Personally, I think he’s going to stay here and potentially battle through whatever comes in front of him."
Celtic's Need and Sutton's Ultimatum
The rumours have ignited excitement among the Celtic support, who are eager to see a familiar face return to boost their faltering title defence. Celtic currently sit six points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts and are actively seeking attacking reinforcements.
Former Celtic striker and pundit Chris Sutton has weighed in, delivering a blunt message to the player. While expressing his desire to see Kyogo back in the green and white hoops, Sutton issued a stark warning.
"I’d take Kyogo back but this can’t rumble on much longer," Sutton said. "Either he wants to come back 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."
What Happens Next for Kyogo?
The situation presents a significant dilemma for all parties involved:
- For Birmingham City: They have invested in a player who has yet to find form. Davies appears willing to show patience, but the club must decide if retaining an unhappy or unproductive asset is beneficial.
- For Celtic: They are in urgent need of a proven goalscorer to revive their season. A loan deal for a fan favourite seems ideal, but they cannot afford a protracted transfer saga.
- For Kyogo Furuhashi: The player faces a career-critical choice. He can either fight to prove his worth in the English Championship or seek a return to the club where he enjoyed his greatest success.
With the January transfer window open, the coming days will be crucial. Birmingham City hold the cards for now, but the pressure from Celtic and the player's own potential desire for a move could yet force a rethink at St Andrew's.
