Kyogo Furuhashi will always be a hero to many Celtic fans after the Japanese striker gave them so many memories during his three years in Glasgow.
As reports circulate about Kyogo’s potential return to Celtic, if the move happens, it will expose a reality about Celtic’s recruitment that simply cannot be ignored.
With Michael Nicholson under serious pressure at Celtic, Kyogo coming back to Celtic would only heap more pressure on the CEO, not alleviate it.
Kyogo Furuhashi back to Celtic… initial thoughts?
A Kyogo return would expose Celtic’s recruitment failure
There is absolutely no doubt that many Celtic fans would welcome Kyogo back to the club with open arms.
On the flip side of that, there are also many who will remember how his time at the club limped to an end.
However, Celtic have had 18 months to come up with a plan to replace the Japanese striker and the best they can come up with is to bring him back to Glasgow after two failed stints at Rennes and Birmingham.
Celtic tried and failed to bring him back in January as their grand plan to replace Kyogo with Kyogo was revealed.
The move was seriously questioned as Michael Stewart criticised Celtic’s recruitment as he said he had ‘grave concerns’ over the Glasgow giants recruitment plans.
Kyogo became Birmingham’s highest earner after his move to the Championship. Celtic should be investing that kind of wage into a striker entering their best years, not one who is on a sharp decline.
Celtic should remember how Kyogo chose to leave
Kyogo is entitled to have ambition to test himself at a higher level, but Celtic fans are equally entitled to raise questions about where his heart lay while still under contract at the club.
The Japanese striker had wanted to leave Celtic for months before his eventual departure, and his performances during that final spell lacked the sharpness supporters had come to expect.
Even Chris Sutton warned Celtic to forget Kyogo after he chose to remain at Birmingham when a Parkhead return became possible.
Kyogo struggled at Birmingham, Celtic would be taking a risk offering a way out of the English Championship to a striker who has barely played any football over the last two seasons.
Kyogo deserves respect for everything he achieved, but he chose to move on and Celtic should have done the same.
The club need a striker for the next four years, not another attempt to recreate the team they had four years ago.
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