Kevin Phillips has told Birmingham City to offload misfiring striker Kyogo Furuhashi in the summer transfer window. The former Blues striker, part of the last Birmingham team to earn promotion to the Premier League, believes it is time to part ways with the Japan international.
Birmingham City's acquisition of Kyogo was one of the Championship's most eye-catching deals last summer, with the club paying a significant fee to bring him from Rennes. However, Kyogo failed to reproduce his scintillating form from Celtic in his first season at St Andrew's.
The 31-year-old striker missed numerous chances in Royal Blue and ended the season with just one Championship goal to his name, totaling three goals in 31 appearances across all competitions, including cup strikes against Sheffield United and Cambridge.
In January, a return to Celtic was on the table, but Kyogo rejected it in favor of proving himself with Blues. Now, with Kyogo well down the pecking order under manager Chris Davies, Phillips believes it is time to move on.
Phillips: 'It hasn't worked out'
"I know the fans like him, but ultimately, in terms of goals and assists, it just hasn't been there, and he got one goal in all his appearances for Birmingham," Phillips told Best Betting Sites. "So it hasn't quite worked out. And it's not like it's only been over a few games, it's been over a good while."
Phillips added: "So I think probably for both parties, if I were Birmingham, I'd be looking to move him on, whether he goes back to Celtic or not or moves somewhere else. And try to bring in someone, maybe a little bit younger than him, who potentially could be an asset for the football club. So I certainly think it hadn't quite worked out for him, so I would be looking to move him on, to be honest."
The advice from Phillips comes as Birmingham City look to rebuild their squad for another push in the Championship. With Kyogo's lack of goals and diminished role, a summer departure seems likely, with Celtic and other clubs potentially interested.
