Breaking: A Star Player’s Arrival at Celtic Faces Harsh Reality, Poses Formidable Challenge
One year on from his £2.5 million January arrival, Oh Hyeon-Gyu has found out the hard way that ousting Kyogo Furuhashi from the Celtic starting XI is far easier said than done.
Kyogo, despite a rather inconsistent run of form over the last few months, remains pretty much the first name on The Hoops team-sheet, with Oh gathering dust on the bench. Still, the prospect of life as a second-choice centre-forward would not stop Lawrence Shankland from biting Rodgers’ arm off at the elbow if Celtic came calling during the final few hours of the January transfer window.
At least, that is the view of former Old Firm hitman Kenny Miller.
“I don’t think there would be any convincing to do there at all,” Miller tells Clyde SuperScoreboard.
“If Lawrence Shankland at this stage of his career saw either of the Old Firm come calling, he would want to make it happen. He would want to work for a manager like Brendan Rodgers. That would be a massive plus for him.
“(Rodgers) has got a brilliant track record of taking players up a few levels. I don’t think he would take any convincing.”
Miller, who represented both Celtic and Rangers during a storied Scottish Premiership career, does wonder if Ibrox is a more suitable destination than Parkhead however. Despite Cyriel Dessers’ sudden burst of goalscoring form, Rangers do not have a centre-forward of Kyogo’s genuinely elite-level talents at their disposal.
“I just think there is more of an opportunity for him at Rangers,” Miller adds. “Because they don’t have a Kyogo.”
Shankland is reportedly valued at around £3 million. He is yet to sign a new contract at Hearts, his current deal expiring in around 18 months’ time (BBC Sport). The Glasgow-born frontman scored 28 goals last season and could even exceed that tally this term, standing only shy of 20 already.
Celtic, however, appear unlikely to test Hearts’ resolve before tomorrow’s transfer deadline. Fellow striker Adam Idah is expected to join on loan from Norwich City.